Saving Zucchini (Chocolate Zucchini Loaf)

If you've ever grown a garden, you know what it's like to have a surplus of vegetables.  I've seen a lot of cartoons where people are looking for sneaky ways to get rid of it.  I don't recommend dumping your zucchini on your neighbor's porch, especially when it's so easy to preserve for future use and there's so many yummy things to do with it.

Using a box grater, grate the zucchini using the largest holes.

It grates quickly, and gives a lot of strips.

I portion it into 2 cup portions, put it in zip top bags and label it.  Now it's ready to be stored in the freezer.

Zucchini has a high water content. If using it in baked goods you will need to either drain it in a colander or squeeze it with paper towels to remove this excess moisture.

Frozen zucchini can be used in most recipes calling for fresh, and since it's shredded it's also an easy way to sneak some extra vegetables into your meals.  I add it to soups and stews, pasta sauces, cakes and brownies.  A chocolate zucchini loaf is a great example.

Here's what you'll need:
3 c shredded zucchini
1 2/3 c sugar
2/3 c vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
2 1/3 c flour
2/3 c cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp baking powder

Combine the zucchini, sugar, oil, vanilla and egg in a large mixing bowl.  Stir to combine.  Set aside.

Sift together the flour, cocoa, cinnamon, cloves, salt, baking soda and baking powder.

Add the dry mixture to the zucchini mixture, stirring to blend well.

Grease the bottom only of a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.  Greasing only the bottom will allow the bread to rise more easily in the pan, and achieve a nice rounded top.

Spread the batter in the greased pan and smooth the top.

Make sure the oven rack is in the lowest position so that the top of the loaf is in the center of the oven.  Bake the bread at 350 for 70-80 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool on a rack for 10 minutes, then loosen the bread from the pan's sides with a knife.  Remove from pan.  Cool completely before slicing.

Wrap tightly in plastic wrap.  Will stay fresh on your counter for 4 days, or up to 10 days in the fridge.

Enjoy!