Friday, August 31, 2012

Baking While Losing Weight

LF Chocolate Mousse Cupcakes (recipe here!
It's pretty much no secret that I LOVE to bake. Nothing smells better than a house with cookies baking in the oven!
Or cake. Or muffins. Oh, and bread!

One thing I'd said when I started on my lifestyle change was that I would have to stop baking for all the obvious reasons (my favorite baked goods were too high in fat / sugar / calories, they weren't all that nutritious, I couldn't stop myself at just one cookie ...)

But now I reflect back on that mindset. By stopping myself from doing something I truly loved to lose a few pounds, was I really setting a positive light on my new healthy lifestyle? Nope. That and I was bound to rebel against my new "no baking" rule, bake fourteen recipes in one day, and have a great big ol' all I could eat sugar buffet. The next day I would get mad at myself for losing control, become depressed, and dive into the leftovers.
Cindy's Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts
And so .. I learned, that it isn't about entirely cutting out things that I love just because I had made bad habits out of them. It was about conditioning myself and changing my behaviors.

Here are some baking lessons I've learned along the way, both from myself and from other incredible people:
Dark Chocolate Chip Banana-Oatmeal Muffins
1. Try modifying your old favorite not-so-healthy recipes into new favorite not-so-terrible ones! Daddy Lego and I have become almost obsessed with "healthifying" full-fat recipes and making them into diet-friendly treats.

2. If you find having an entire batch in the home too much temptation for you, then half the recipe and bake that. That way if you do slip up and eat the whole thing, at least it was only a half-batch instead of the whole!

3. Another suggestion if having a full batch in the home is too hard to control yourself around: give some to a family member, a friend, or a neighbor. Trust me, they'll be all too happy to take a container of homemade oatmeal raisin cookies off your hands!

4. Put your freezer to good use! Wrap up your baked goods individually and freeze them. That way they're out of sight and out of mind, but still there if you need a treat. And because they're individually wrapped, you won't have to thaw out the entire bunch to have just one cookie. The rest of the tempting goodies will still be frozen and away from your mouth!
Christina's Double Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread (recipe here!)
When faced with extra temptation, ask yourself these questions: What is more important to me, that second muffin or my health / fitness goals? Is this the ONLY time I'll get to have a piece of chocolate cake ever again? Did I already have a treat today?

Remember, if you do happen to slip up and eat one cookie out of each batch that comes out of the oven to "quality test" it .. (ahem. I totally do that) ... Brush yourself off and get back to your healthy habits right away. You've worked too hard to get where you are today to let one bad decision ruin your progress!

Do you have any tips on how to control your after-baking urges? What do you do to keep your goals in check while still enjoying your baking hobby?

Happy healthy baking! :)


Thursday, August 30, 2012

SNT - Week Four!

So this will be the last "weekly" edition of SNT .. From September onward, it's going to be a monthly feature! (the last Thursday of every month will be SNT!) That way, it gives you more time to try new things and to share them with us!

Keep in mind that trying new foods and recipes is FUN! It's a great opportunity for you to get creative and give your taste buds a treat! Get your regular meal plan out of the rut and eat something different. It helps SO much in keeping myself on track with my lifestyle and dietary changes. If I get bored with what I'm eating, I won't stick to my plan - I'll eat just about anything that comes into my eyesight and it WON'T be pretty!

If you do try something new, brag about it!! Send me a picture at mama_lego@yahoo.com :)

Christina made this homemade mushroom soup .. I'm a huge sucker for creamy soups and this looks AMAZING!

Daddy Lego and I made this BLT pizza (well, BST .. bacon, spinach and tomato!) sssssoooo very good :) Recipe to come!

PB & J Oatmeal. I'm so completely addicted. You can see the recipe here!

Alana tried a kumquat! She said it was nothing special, just like a small orange :) And it's so cute!

Christina made this roasted beet, onion and carrot salad (she said the beets were sweet like raisins!) I really want to try golden beets now!

Cindy made this delicious-looking Looneyspoons Copabanana bread and added walnuts, cinnamon and nutmeg. Apparently it's the best banana bread she has ever had!

Thanks so much to everyone who participated and made SNT special for me (and everyone else!) and thanks to you all for reading :) 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

100-Miles On Foot .. Challenge Defeated!!

It's done.

My first monthly fitness challenge has been completed.

And I'm actually sad about it!!
One of the gorgeous paths I get to run down
It was so much fun to keep getting myself out the door, going for runs and walks as much as possible. It was almost addictive, to see the numbers climbing higher and higher on my pedometer, and pushing myself to get more miles in than the day before, the week before. It was exciting to blow my daily goals out of the water!

I've decided I'm not going to stop. I'm going to keep wearing my pedometer every day to make sure I get in at least 10, 000 steps every day! It's fun and keeps me active!
Hulk decided to come on one of our evening walks :)
This week I walked / ran for 40.79 miles!!

Making my total for the month 126.87 miles!! Holy crap!!

I achieved my goal of getting 100 miles on foot in one month. I am SO proud and really excited. What a great feeling! 
Another view of the same path. Just a beautiful walking / running trail!
My goal for September is to work on my core strength. I cannot do a proper sit-up or a proper push-up .. And so I've challenged myself to be able to complete 25 non-stop reps of each by the end of the month! I'll also be doing my best to take the 300 Ab and Core challenge .. But my main goal will be the sit-ups and push-ups. And I really do think I've got my plate full with this challenge!

September, here I come!!






Tuesday, August 28, 2012

BLT Pizza! (well, kind of!)

As you are well aware by now - Daddy Lego and I have a pizza problem. We just can't get enough of the stuff. If I go listing the reasons why, I'll start to want one .. And that's a craving I just don't want to deal with (at least not today!)

Anyhow, in order to use up some ingredients we had in the fridge (bococcini and chicken bacon!) we decided to make a pizza. And I LOVE BLT's .. So we decided to combine them! Well, sort of. We certainly didn't load it with mayonnaise.

We started with a PC whole grain thin crust (we normally make our own dough but we were running low on some ingredients which would have cost us more than a pre-made crust!), then added a layer of pizza sauce (we accidentally put too much on this time .. Next time will be different!). We topped our pizza with (not in this particular order) a layer of thinly sliced tomatoes, seven (small) pieces of sliced up bococcini, two pieces of chopped chicken bacon, and spinach. (see?! Bacon, lettuce and tomato!)

Then we grated a tiny 2cm cube of light old cheddar over top, sprinkled on some chopped fresh basil, and threw it into the oven for 20 minutes on 425.

O ... M ... G!!

The bococcini melted SO beautifully and gave our pizza that gooey, stringy cheesy feeling without the added fat. The old cheddar added that little extra flavor that this pizza wouldn't have been the same without. The saltiness of the chicken bacon perfectly matched the low-salt flavor of the bococcini and the tomato added so much taste to the pizza. Every bite was a little piece of heaven.

And get this. Because we used thin crust and lighter toppings, each QUARTER was eight points!!

This pizza is definitely on our "must make again" list!

PB & J Oatmeal

I simply adore oatmeal. It's such a comfort food for me! I remember always eating it on those cold winter days before my short walks to school. As an adult, I've come to appreciate it not only in the fall / winter, but the spring / summer season as well. It is a nutritious and filling breakfast that can be made with just about anything!

I'd been thinking about this "recipe" for a while and decided to give it a go.

I took 1/4C of one-minute oats and soaked it in 1/4C of boiled water for (you guessed it!) one minute. Then I mixed in 1/2 tbsp of triple-berry jam and topped it with 1/2 tbsp of whipped peanut butter. Then I stirred it all together.

That's it!

This amazing bowl of PB & J delight is only four points. It's worth every one!

Who doesn't love peanut butter and jam?!

I SO love it. I could eat it all day!

Have a great day, everyone :)
I'm seriously addicted to this. So.Freakin.Good.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Provolone Cordon Bleu Turkey Burgers

My husband and I love turkey burgers. They are so moist, juicy, and flavored ... But the best part about them is how lean and guilt-free they are.

We love to experiment with different variations of turkey burgers. This week we invented a Cordon Bleu with Provolone turkey burger.

Mix one pack of lean ground turkey with one egg white, 1/4c oats, 1 tbsp hickory-smoked BBQ sauce, finely chopped red onions, garlic, sea salt and pepper all together. Then thinly slice extra lean deli ham (about four slices) into strips and work them into the mix.
The ham really added that extra bit of flavor. So delicious!

Use a 1/2 cup to measure out each portion and mold them into burger patties. Cover them and let them sit in the fridge for about two hours.

Fry them over low heat on the stovetop until they're browned lightly on both sides, then put them onto a baking tray and put them in the oven for about 20-25 minutes at 350. Then top each burger with a slice of light provolone cheese.

Each patty with cheese is 6 WW+ points! Not bad vs beef cheeseburgers, right?!

We had them one night as burgers for dinner, and then had leftovers for lunch the next day. To save on points (and carbs!) I had my turkey burger without a bun. I topped my patty with spinach, tomato and a slice of light cheese. Yum!

Enjoy :)
My bun-less turkey burger leftover lunch!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Chili Cheese Dogs

I've been trained (for years) to eat on a budget. This means I HATE to waste food. That being said, I'd made a big batch of homemade tomato sauce (well, it was half-homemade. I used a store-bought light Ragu sauce that I loaded with my own ingredients, like fresh garlic, mushrooms, fresh diced tomatoes, onions, and extra lean ground beef) and had lots left over. I was eating it over the next few days with a small bowl of pasta and lots of side veggies.

But I needed something different. I avoid food ruts like the plague (hence the creation of Something New Thursdays!) and was getting bored. The kids were, too.

We had some Schneiders all-natural beef wieners in the fridge (have you tried them?! They're excellent!) and decided to combine them with our leftover meat sauce to make chili dogs. I'd always wanted to try them, and I LOVE hot dogs, so I was excited.
Looking at this picture makes me want more.

I heated up the spare meat sauce (maybe a cup worth?) on the stove top and threw in a tbsp of chili powder and a pinch of cumin. We didn't have any beans to add (boo) but we definitely will next time, because that was the only thing that we missed that we thought would make our chili dogs perfect!

While our hot dogs were boiling and the sauce was simmering, I laid out a slice of multigrain, whole wheat bread and placed a slice of light cheese on each. Then I added the hot dogs and 1/4 cup of "chili" on top, and voila! A spicy, cheesy and delicious chili dog!

This treat was 8 points for one and will be had in the future on a "treat-only" basis. Paired up with a handful of freh and colorful veggies = YUM!

What's your favorite way to enjoy your hot dog?

Friday, August 24, 2012

A Break-Up Letter

Before you ask .. that's a beauty mark on my dawg.
Dear Scale,

For as long as I can remember, you and I have had this horribly wonderful love-hate relationship. You were there for some good times, and you were there for some bad. You witnessed me at my smallest size, guided me through "healthy" pregnancy weight gains, and suffered with me through my post-baby weight loss attempts.

When I was my smallest, around the age of 18, you were my dear friend. You helped guide me to a weight that was so low and so unmaintainable, and yet the number you showed me made me feel good. It made me feel like I looked good, was healthy, and was worth something.

When I was at my biggest, I despised you and hated your guts for showing me numbers I'd never wanted to see. I blamed you for my size and for every pound that seemed to find its way onto your display. It was YOUR fault I was gaining weight.

When I reflect on both scenarios, I realize that neither of them were healthy or proper. It wasn't fair of me to blame you for my weight gain, and it wasn't fair of you to make me feel like the lower the number you showed me, the better a person I was.

I understand the importance of checking in with you on my weight loss journey, but I don't wish to be so dependent on your results anymore. I don't need your numbers to let me know if I'm doing a good job. You won't be able to tell me if I made healthy food choices that day. You won't be able to tell me if I ran long enough yesterday. You'll only be able to tell me how much I weigh. And in my quest to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, my weight is such a minimal and unimportant thing. What is important is that I DO make those healthy food choices ... That I DO keep up my exercising and working out, and how my mind, body and soul FEEL. And if I'm feeling great physically and mentally, then I know I'm doing things right. I'll know I'm headed in the right direction.

Yes, I will still check in with you every now and then. I do have a weight-loss goal that I would like to reach. But things will be different. Instead of focusing on my weight goals, I'm going to concentrate on my fitness and body goals. I'll still have to weigh-in weekly with my WW program, but I won't be placing any importance on the ups and downs of the numbers. I know that as long as I'm properly following the program, making good food choices and exercising regularly, that the weight loss will continue.

What matters is how I feel, both inside and out.

And so, dear scale, I'm breaking up with you. I'll see you every now and then, but not every day, as we've both grown accustomed to. Age is just a number - so is weight. And while I want to be a healthy weight (and no longer classified as morbidly obese) I can become a healthy weight without being tied down to you.

I wish you well, old friend and foe.
Best wishes,

Mama Lego

Thursday, August 23, 2012

SNT - Week Three!

Sadly, I didn't receive any pictures for this week's edition :( (though my mom sent me a couple of recipes that I'd like to try to make for next week's SNT post!) ... however, this week, Team Lego tried a few new things that we can share!

We found pluots at Farm Boy and were intrigued. Daddy Lego adores finding and trying new fruit (seriously, if fruit-tasting was a hobby, he'd be president of the club!). Pluots are part of the plum family. They're soft and juicy like plums, but much bigger and (nicely) sweet! You just know you're going to find a food fact blog from me about them, soon ;)
Looks like an apple, doesn't it?

A look inside. So yummy!
Believe it or not, I've never had a chili dog before. We made them this week and I felt silly that these have never made it to my plate before! They're SO good!! I'll have the meal idea / recipe post about them soon :)

Looking at this close-up makes me want them again :)
Daddy Lego made this amazing warm pasta salad, with whole wheat bow tie pasta, bococcini, eggplant, fresh basil and tomatoes. Again, I'll include the recipe in a later post!
Daddy Lego knows how to make any meal look incredible!

We love coming up with different ways to cook up turkey burgers. This here is our "Provolone Cordon Bleu" turkey burger. Suuuuper delicious and moist, loaded with flavor in every bite! Recipe to come! (the pink bits in the middle are sliced ham)
The sliced ham mixed into the turkey meat was such a great touch. The flavor was just delicious!


Don't forget to take the Something New Challenge! Try one new food / recipe / meal per week to keep yourself out of the ol' boring food rut! Send me a picture to have it featured in that week's SNT post! 

Have a great week, everyone :)

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

My 100-Miles on Foot Challenge - Week Three Update!

Week three started off not so smoothly.

I noticed my pedometer app just wasn't working up to par. It wasn't properly calculating my steps. There were days where it would say my walk to work was only 1.5 miles long, when in fact I know it's just over 2.5.

Daddy Lego knew how frustrated I was getting because I was losing precious miles that I indeed had walked / ran. And I didn't feel right just adding on an extra mile or so at the end of the day to make up for it (what I'd I'd walked more than a mile, or less?). It would have felt like cheating.

My incredible husband came home on Sunday with a new pedometer for me. He'd researched the best one to get for my needs, and made sure to get product reviews before buying it to ensure he wasn't getting a dud for me. He even double-checked with the sales people at the store to make sure they hadn't heard anything negative about the one he'd chosen.

(I've said it before and I'll say it again - he's too good to be true!!)

This pedometer is also too good to be true! It clicks into place on any pair of pants I wear .. No matter if I'm wearing my favorite (baggy) pajama bottoms, my yoga pants, or jeans, it doesn't budge. And because it's so small, it doesn't get in the way. It calculates every step perfectly (my walks to work are 2.5 miles again!). And since it's on me all day (vs. when it was on my iPhone, it wasn't possible to have it on me all day), my steps add up much quicker! Every step to the bathroom gets tracked, getting up to fetch snacks for the kids gets counted, and every dance step I take gets accounted for. Big yay!
It counts mile / kilometers, steps, calories, keeps time AND does your dishes!! :P

So this week's total is ... 33.32 miles!!

Wow, right?! And to think, it could have been higher had the first few days been tracked properly on my pedometer app!

I have been enjoying the cooler weather lately and have been out for walks / runs with the kids every day. This summer weather is such a joy!!

I hope you're all getting out to enjoy it! Happy walking :)


Ps. For my fitness challenge for the month of September, Monica (hi Mon!) has challenged me to work on my core strength. Since my arms are a BIG source of core weakness for me, I've decided to start there. Any suggestions for targets I should be aiming for? And any other core body exercises I can add to my workout?

Friday, August 17, 2012

My highlights of the week!

I had a pretty kick-ass week. I'm thrilled it's Friday (woo hoo weekend!!) but had some pretty great highlights this week. Here are a few of them!

My walks to work are about 45 minutes long .. and about 3/4's of the way through my walk, I saw this beautiful rainbow. It was the brightest one I've ever seen! Definitely a photo moment. It's really hard to tell, but there are actually two rainbows here.

I finally bought new running shoes. I cannot express enough just how important it is to have proper food gear when running and walking for long distances. My knees are MUCH happier now that I have shoes that help absorb shock! And they are SO comfortable!! They may not be the ones I was drooling over at Sport Chek .. But those will come, in time :) I love love LOVE these!! Super comfortable and very affordable!

This was my husband's reaction when he got his birthday gift from his brother Kevin. Look at those gamer headphones! Such a dork. I love it!

Having someone you admire, respect, and idolize post a picture on FB of a comment you made on her blog post = So cool. Totally made my day!

I made an old favorite (PB and banana toast!) a new favorite, but points-friendly and just as delicious! It's all about portion-control and not eating it every single day. Having it once in a while as a treat will keep it special for me.

We have full-fat cheese in the house for our kids .. My old habit used to be that when I was slicing it or grating it for the kids, I'd eat the remaining pieces. Today, I caught myself. No nibbling for me!! Reformed cheese addict right here! (ah, who am I kidding .. I'm still a mozzerelladdict)

Funny pictures make me smile. Had to share this one!
How was everyone's week? I hope you all had some special highlights. I hope even more that you have a fantastic weekend, as well! :)
Cheers and a few jumping jacks!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Something New Thursday - Week Two!

Lots of entries this week, it's so exciting! (well, for me, anyways!)

Remember to take the Something New Challenge! Try ONE new thing this week, and send me a picture of it to have it included in next week's post! It's a fun way to show off your culinary creations and to keep your taste buds happy! :)

Christine, a wonderful friend (and amazing cook, I must add!) made this banana bread from the Looneyspoons Collection. She said they didn't last long in her house! They're called Cookies for Rookies and are basically an oatmeal and peanut butter chocolate-chip cookie. They're now on my must-try list!

Christina made these balsamic grated carrots for a side dish and really enjoyed them. It's a simple dish to make, using grated carrots, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, a sprinkling of sugar and salt and pepper. She said that the sugar probably wasnt really needed. Looks delicious! One point per serving.

Cindy made this fantastic-looking pasta dish from the Looneyspoons Collection. It's made with sun-dried tomatoes, bacon, mushrooms, spinach and chicken. Doesn't it look great?! She loved it! Eleven points per serving.

This week, Daddy Lego made a delicious bruschetta for a BBQ on the weekend (will post the recipe later this week!). We had lots left over and used it as a pasta sauce. We topped it over Catelli Smart high-fiber penne, sautéed mushrooms, and chicken. A-m-a-z-i-n-g. So much flavor!!

Christine also sent in this picture of Sweet Home Alabanana! It's a banana bread made with chocolate chips, oat bran, pecans and lots of cinnamon! From how much she raved about it, I think she'll be making it again :)

And that wraps up the second week of SNT! Thanks to all who sent pictures!! :)

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Realizations: Week Two of my 100-Mile Challenge

My sidewalk hath spoken.
You know, I just don't give myself enough credit. I think many mommies and daddies can attest to this.

Being any form of parent is a tough job. Yes, we have the diaper changes, and the lack of sleep, and the terrible two's ...

But ... Did you know how much exercise one gets when raising kids?! Tons!! We chase after them when they run around with their underwear on their heads, we carry them to the shower when they wake up after wetting the bed, we walk while rocking them to sleep in our arms, we dance and pop up and down when playing Ring Around The Rosey ..

The first week and a half of my 100-Miles on Foot Challenge, I only wore my pedometer when I was outdoors, walking with my kids to the park, playing games, training for my 5K run, walking to work, to the store, etc ..

Then I started to wear my pedometer indoors, too. It was on me when I was putting away laundry, washing dishes, putting the kids down for naps, mopping the floors, tidying up toys, making meals .. And it was exciting (and shocking!) to see all the steps racking up on the pedometer!

Every step truly does count .. Especially when you've challenged yourself to walk or run 100 miles in 30 days!

Three cheers for active parents!

My total for this week: 29.18 miles!!

This brings my grand total to 52.76 miles so far this month. Two weeks down, two weeks to go, and I'm on track to hitting my 100-mile goal! Yay :)

Has anyone else challenged themselves for this month? How is it coming along?
Have a great day, everyone!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

WW Update!

So .. Some of you may have noticed that I haven't blogged about my WW meetings / weigh-ins for a little while ..

*sheepish look*

I haven't been going.

Last week was a holiday, so my regular meeting was cancelled. I wasn't able to make it to any other meetings that week. And this week, my new shift kicked in, which effectively wiped Monday night's meeting out of my schedule (I miss you guys!!).

I fiddled around with the idea of carrying on with WW, on my own .. But almost as soon as that thought entered my brain, I kicked it back out again. I've been down that road before. I remember how much weight I put back on every. single. time. And I'm not going to do that again.

My heart is telling me to go to the Saturday morning meetings. My favorite leader / role model, Leslie, leads the meeting, and one of my best friends goes there .. So it just makes sense for me to go then, right?!

... But.

The meeting is at 9AM!! After I get home at 1am the same day! And my alarm clock and I aren't on speaking terms and I'll need to be able to sleep longer ..

(see what I did there? I'm making excuses again.)

Weight Watchers is SO important to me. I get to check in weekly to make sure I'm on track with my weight loss goals. I get to hear the other members' inspiring success stories. I learn so much from the meeting itself. And hello, motivation!!

And if it's important to me .. I'll make time for it. I'll find a way. Even if it means losing a little sleep. It'll be worth it :)
Keeping on track! 

In the meantime, I'm still happily tracking my foods, reading motivational WW success stories online, exercising every day, and trying new recipes! Just because I haven't been able to go to meetings does not mean I intend to fall off the wagon until I do go!

So Saturday morning's group: are ya ready for Mama Lego?!

Monday, August 13, 2012

Honey Brown Bread

Hello Everyone!

I had a wonderful yet busy weekend! Hoping everyone's weekend was fantastic!

Here's a quick post, including the second recipe from Christina's addition to Something New Thursday!

Honey Brown Bread

PointsPlus™ Value:    3
Servings:  14
Preparation Time:  0 min
Cooking Time:  0 min
Level of Difficulty:  Easy

Ingredients

3 cup(s) whole wheat flour ( )   

1 1/8 cup(s) water ( )   

1 1/2 tsp table salt ( )   

1/3 cup(s) honey ( )   

1 Tbsp non-fat instant dry powdered milk ( )   

1 1/2 Tbsp regular butter ( )   

1 1/2 tsp yeast ( )

I popped all of this in my bread maker, and walked away for 4 hours ;)

The bread itself is sweet because of the honey, and so it's not necessarily the most points-friendly bread if you're making sandwiches or toast, but it's a nice treat and is tasty!

Happy baking!

Friday, August 10, 2012

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread a la Christina!

My best friend Christina sent in her pictures for Something New Thursday, and also included the recipes to share! She loves to bake and cook and will hopefully (wink wink! lol) be featured every Thursday with her yummy goodies!

Scroll to the bottom for notes from the baker :) She made some edits to the original recipe that she loved!

Happy baking!
Looks delicious, right?!

Points Value: 4
Servings: 14
Preparation Time: 0 min
Cooking Time: 0 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

(Ignore the prep time and cooking time, it takes longer than that lol)

Ingredients

2 cup(s) all-purpose flour ( )

1/2 cup(s) unsweetened cocoa ( )

2 tsp baking powder ( )

1/2 tsp table salt ( )

3/4 cup(s) buttermilk ( )

1 tsp vanilla extract ( )

1 1/4 cup(s) uncooked zucchini ( )

1/3 cup(s) unsweetened applesauce ( )

1/2 cup(s) sugar ( )

3/4 cup(s) mini chocolate chips ( )

2 large egg(s) ( )

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9X5-inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder and salt.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, applesauce, buttermilk and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and stir until almost fully combined. Add in the zucchini and chocolate chips and stir until evenly distributed in the batter (batter should be fairly thick).

Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with only moist crumbs attached.

Turn loaf out of pan and cool on a wire rack before slicing.


Mmmm moist chocolatey goodness
Note from the baker!

*** The original recipe called for oil, which I substituted with some unsweetened apple/peach/carrot sauce I had in the fridge. It also called for a full cup of sugar which I halved, and a full cup of chocolate chips which I also reduced. I also didn't have buttermilk, so I used 1% milk with some lemon juice. It turned out excellent! The zucchini (I actually used a squash called a Magda which is similar in taste to zucchini, I just needed to use them up in my fridge, and I may have used more than 1 1/4 cup) made it moist, and because of the chocolate chips, reducing the sugar by half didn't sacrifice the sweetness.***