I'll have a date with Mr. Zucchini. Please and thank you.

Life is hard sometimes but baking makes it better. So, I made you some zucchini bread and because I get self conscious about my mid-section (please, I know you skinny girls do too so don't roll your eyes at my honesty) I try to make it healthier. And let's be honest, I'm not giving up my kitchen life for anyone. Not even the mirror. So the mirror and I had a conversation this morning. I said, "look out, I'm 'bout to bake." The mirror cringed and tried to dispute my plans. With a fair argument from both sides, we came to a very civil agreement. Whole wheat? Whole wheat I can do. and all that sugar? Meh, I can do with less and add an old banana. Deal? Deal. In all the excitement I tried to high-five the mirror and it was awkward but I realized it was a mirror and the voice in my head... ok. enough. Let's go get our bake on.

So, I found an old recipe that I loved and got rid of all the refined white flour and replaced all but one cup with whole wheat flour and reduced the sugar buy a whole cup and added a very ripe banana to make sure it evened out the sweetness. Gosh darn it, it worked! It's so yummy and moist. I only wish I had some apple sauce to use instead of the oil. Next time. Next time will be better. For now, though, I'll have a slice and put the rest in the freezer and give away the giant muffins. Immediately. All 5 of them. ...ok, ok, all SIX of them! Geesh! Haters!

Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour (the evil stuff)
2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 very ripe banana
1 cup vegetable oil (replace this with apple sauce if you have it)
4 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup water
2 1/2 cups grated zucchini
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, nutmeg, baking soda, cinnamon and sugar. In a separate bowl, combine oil, eggs, water, zucchini, lemon juice and banana. Mix wet ingredients into dry, add nuts and fold in (iffin's you want to). Bake in 2 standard loaf pans, sprayed with nonstick spray, for 1 hour, or until a tester comes out clean. Alternately, bake in a 6 giant muffin pan for about 45 minutes.