Graciesbakes

Things have been very busy in our house for the last few weeks. We finally got around to painting the living room transforming it from a magnolia room that was just too bright at night to a lovely, cosy space that feels a little more like home, and not a rented house that you can do nothing with.

We have also had a new and very exciting arrival in the house. We had always planned on it eventually, but a Sunday afternoon drive left us with more than we had bargained for. Charlie Bird. He is lovely, friendly and very needy. He makes noise when he is left alone and rewards you with bright eyes and excitement when you come back.

Charlie Bird is an 18 month old Boxer cross that we got in the Rescue Centre. He had been abandoned before Christmas and when we saw him in his cage 2 weeks ago, I fell in love with him. I have wanted a boxer since I was about 10 and he is an absolute joy. He is a little needy at the moment, but in fairness who wouldn’t be if left on the side of the road to fend for yourself at just 18 months old?  There are so many dogs that are abandoned by people who don’t realise how big a dog will grow/how much time and exercise they need or who  simply change their mind. If you are thinking of getting a dog, don’t buy one, give a rescue dog a second chance and give them a home. They are a wonderful friend to have in the house and have so much love to give.

Right, after that little rant, I have done little baking in January. However, a search through the veg drawer in the fridge revealed 3 courgettes that were begging for a bit of excitement in their lives .They obviously did a little too much over the holidays too, like me!  I recalled seeing a recipe for courgette, or Zucchini bread, on 101 Cookbooks a while ago. The preparation of ingredients will take a little while, but once that is done, the rest is super simple.

You will need;

1.5 cups chopped walnuts, half cup unsalted butter, 1 cup sugar, half cup soft light sugar, 3 large eggs, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 3 courgettes grated*, 3 cups wholewheat flour, 1.5tsp baking soda, half tsp baking powder, 1tsp salt, 1tsp cinnamon

* You will need to squeeze out a lot of the fluid out of the courgettes and fluff them up a little.

Preheat the oven to 180C, and line 2 loaf tins.

Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy and add the eggs one by one. Scrape down the sides and base of the bowl each time and make sure that the mixture is well incorporated. Add the vanilla, and turn the speed right down. Add the courgettes and beat slowly.

In a 2nd bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add the dry ingredients into the wet and stir. Fold in the walnuts and pour into the loaf tin.

Bake for 40-45 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Try not to leave it in the tin as it will go soggy.

The flavours, with the walnuts and the cinnamon, reminds me a lot of carrot cake. I changed the recipe from 101 Cookbooks a little in that I didn’t want any poppyseeds or ginger. But feel free to add your own. AND it is a great way of including some of your five a day in your diet. And lets face it, you can never eat too many vegetables.

The marathon training is going well…ish. I have joined a running club and meet them a couple of times a week. This weekend, I am due to do a long run which should be interesting! I will keep you all informed. Whether you want to know or not!!! hee hee.

Enjoy, I am off to see whether I can make a needy dog stop whining. I think he thinks that we are going to leave him alone.

Orlsxxx