Well, it’s November 6th, and I am currently wearing black. I am in mourning for our nation and especially for the millions of people whom I fear will be adversely affected by the presumptive winner of the presidential election. And although I briefly considered starting my day with a double martini, I decided that it would in no way help our nation and might have some kind of adverse effect on how I make it through the rest of the day. I have really never started my day with alcohol except for adding a little Jack Daniels to my coffee while camping with Dan and Evelyn. (BTW – Thanks Uncle Dan and Auntie Evelyn (my kids’ auntie and uncle) for all the wonderful times we have shared over the years.)
So, instead of feeling sorry for myself (and every other conscientious person I know), I’ve decided to dwell on the one bad thing that might not happen because of who won the election. There might not be any rioting or killing because some stupid idiots with guns and a feeling they had been cheated out of winning again, might just stay home and reflect on the many wonderful new things that might be coming their way. Like no social security, their affordable health plan revoked, school lunch programs for their children abolished, Medicaid eliminated, more people allowed to roam free with semi-automatic rifles, etc. etc. Now, isn’t that enough to make any “right” minded American happy?! OK, I’m done now. (Well, almost!) And no, I don’t really feel any better. But I had to say what I had to say anyway. But on to this recipe……
Every time I make Curried Pumpkin and Peanut Soup (recipe on site), I always have about a cup of pumpkin puree left over. And although I could just use it in the soup (no one would know the difference), that little bit of extra pumpkin becomes a challenge. And I love cooking challenges.
So, this time I decided it was time for a new breakfast bread. But one that also included chopped pecans, grated carrots, and zucchini, because, well, why not? (Plus, I had a small zucchini that needed to be used.) I went online and found the basic recipe on the whatsformeat.blogspot.com site. I made several changes, including adding a crumble topping, but thanks go to the owner of this site for the basic recipe.
So, if you too love a warm piece of quick bread for breakfast (or anytime really), then give this recipe a try. The bread is moist, tender, and full of flavor. And I promise you, your children will never know they are eating their veggies.
Well, that’s it for today. It’s going to take me a while to get used to the new regime. It probably isn’t going to affect people who have enough money to weather the storm. I’m not worried about that demographic. I fear for those who are poor, ill, aren’t white, not heterosexual, not happy in the body they were born with, pray to a God that isn’t recognized by some people in our country with narrow minds and no empathy, a women’s right to care for their own body, immigrants, and anyone who is in the least bit free thinking. Or has ever crossed paths in a negative way with our new ruler.
So, my hope for myself and all who share my worries is that we can divest ourselves of agony over situations out of our control, bitter feelings toward others with different perspectives, and just go on loving and taking care of each other like we always have. And that’s going to be hard. (At least it’s going to be very difficult for me to find forgiveness in my heart for people with only their own selfish agenda in mind.) But that’s really all we can do, my friends. Forgive, forget, stay positive, stay caring, and get on with our lives.
And as always, peace and love to all.
For the crumble topping: (I suggest you make this first so it can get cold in your fridge while you put the bread part together.)
2 T. packed brown sugar
3 T. unbleached all-purpose flour
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
2 T. unsalted butter, cold and cubed
Mix the brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon together. Add the cold butter and using a pastry cutter or fork, cut butter into the brown sugar mixture until pea-size crumbles form. Or do what I do, dump the whole mess in a small food processor and whirl until chunks form.
Refrigerate until ready to use. (The colder the topping, the less likely it will sink into the bread while it is baking.)
For the bread:
½ c. vegetable oil
½ c. granulated sugar
½ c. brown sugar
3 lg. eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. grated zucchini, patted dry with paper towels
1 c. grated carrot, patted dry with paper towels
1 c. canned pumpkin puree
¾ c. chopped pecans
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. unbleached all-purpose flour, fluffed
1 T. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
¼ tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. kosher salt
(And I have no idea why the spaces. I can’t figure it out. And I’m too tired to play with it any longer.)
Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or 2 7-inch loaf pans. Line the bottom(s) with parchment paper. (After I place the parchment paper in the bottom of the pan or pans, I turn it over. This way the parchment paper is lightly greased on both sides to allow the baked bread to easily be lifted out of the pan and the parchment paper off the baked loaf.
Beat the oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla together in the bowl of your stand mixer until smooth, creamy, and yellow.
Add the zucchini, carrot, pumpkin, and pecan pieces and mix until well incorporated. In a separate bowl whisk the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
Scoop into prepared pan(s). Top with the crumble topping mixture.
Bake in a pre-heated 350-degree oven for 40-55 minutes or until a tester comes out clean. (You might want to check after 40 minutes, because all ovens are different and if the topping is getting too dark, you might want to cover it loosely with aluminum foil.)
Remove from oven and set on a wire rack. Let sit for about 15 minutes before carefully removing it from the pan or pans. Let cool completely before storing in a Ziplock bag or airtight container.