When someone mentions Zucchini Bread, I automatically think of the quick bread that is similar to banana bread only made with zucchini. Actually it’s quite delicious, and most people I talk to love it. However, that sweet zucchini bread is not suitable for serving with soups, salads, or main dishes; it is better for snacks and dessert. When I’m baking bread for dinner, I want it to be savory so I can slather lots of good sweet butter on it.

Many of us don’t have time to bake bread for a meal; however, if we own an automatic bread machine, we can let the machine do the work for us, whether we’re home or not, and we can have bread baking just in time for dinner. Not only are both of these breads absolutely delicious (especially hot from the oven), they contain lots of healthy ingredients and no bad ingredients (unless you consider white flour a bad ingredient). Both breads, while having different flavors, are crusty and have lots of fiber due to the whole wheat flour and nuts.

New bread machines are quite inexpensive, under $45, but I have picked several up at good will stores for $3 to $8 each. Once you see how well they mix and proof the dough, without your supervision, you will be hooked!

Zucchini Sunflower Seed Bread

1 1/2 cups water
1 cup packed shredded zucchini
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups white flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons soft butter
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1 tablespoon dry yeast

Place the ingredients in the bread machine pan in the order given; turn the machine to the dough cycle. When the cycle is finished, remove the dough from the pan and shape it into a large round loaf or two smaller round loaves. Place on a parchment-lined baking pan. Let rise until double.

Bake in a preheated 375° oven for 20-25 minutes or until browned.

Note: If you’d rather not take the time to shape the dough, then set the machine to the large loaf cycle and let the machine do all of the work for you. Hands-on time is about 10 minutes to place the ingredients in the bread machine pan, and that’s it.

Zucchini Walnut Bread

The zucchini in this bread makes it especially moist; it keeps several days. If you have some left after dinner, remember that it makes incredible toast.

1 1/2 cups water
1 cup packed shredded zucchini
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups white flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons soft butter
1 cup toasted walnuts
1 tablespoon dry yeast

Place the ingredients in the bread machine pan in the order given; turn the machine to the whole wheat cycle or regular baking cycle depending on your machine. Set the timer to finish just before you’re ready to eat dinner.

Variation: This bread is fabulous when 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh rosemary is added. You can bake as above, or set your machine to the dough cycle and shape the dough into round loaves. It goes especially well with Italian food.



Purchase a Black and Decker Automatic Bread Machine from Amazon
Purchase a Cuisinart Automatic Bread Machine from Amazon