Zucchini Bread

Made a double batch to bring some into work - it was a big hit!  I went the safe route since I was doing a double batch and used the highest rated zucchini bread recipe from allrecipes :) - except I eliminated the walnuts.  I used summer squash as well.

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 1/4 cups white sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini (drained)

Grease two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
Mix flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a separate large bowl. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. *It took mine a good hour.

Italian Herb Bread

I served this bread with the stuffed shells (and a salad).  I didn't take a picture, but you know what bread looks like.  It came out great.  My breadmaker takes 3.5 hours from start to finish, so I timed it to be coming out at perfect timing, we ate a lot - it was delish!

This recipe is from the Oster recipe book that came with the machine.  This is for a 2lb loaf, made in a breadmaker.

1 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups flour (I only had 2 cups bread flour and supplemented with regular, it was fine)
2 tsp sugar
1 tbsp dried parsley (I was generous w/all the herbs)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp active dry yeast

Put wet ingredients then dry.  Form well for yeast, avoiding contact with wet ingredients.  Use the "french" setting, and medium crust.  Press start.  Enjoy in 3.5 hrs!

Homemade bread! Traditional White Bread

My mom got me a wonderful present for Christmas - a breadmaker!  It's the Oster 2lb Expressbake Breadmaker.  Once I was able to get my butt to the store to pick up some yeast and bread flour, I got to work!

It is amazing how easy it really is.  You put in the wet ingredients, put in the dry ingredients, make a little hole in the flour for the yeast to sit in, and press start!  I chose to begin at the beginning with the traditional white loaf, recipe provided in the Oster Users Guide provided with the machine.

You will need:  
1 3/8 cups water
2 tbsp soft butter
4 cups bread flour
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp dry milk
1 3/4 tsp salt
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (one packet)

Measure and add liquid ingredients to the bread pan.

Measure and add dry ingredients (except yeast) to the bread pan.

Use your finger to form a well (hole) in the flour where you will pour the yeast. Yeast must NEVER come into contact with a liquid when you are adding ingredients. Measure the yeast and carefully pour it into the well.

Snap the baking pan into the breadmaker and close the lid.

Press "Select" button to choose the Basic setting.

Press the "Crust Color" button to choose light, medium or dark crust.  For this one I chose Medium.

Press the "Start/Stop" button.

Finished product: