Loving the Lake in New Hampshire

These are some of the many reasons I couldn't stop smiling after I returned from my annual family trip to Lake Winnipesauke in New Hampshire a couple weeks ago. From swimming every day to fishing to sailing to tubing and helping my niece water ski for the first time, the list goes on and on. The memories have stayed with me, fueling my days and the inevitable return to work. The water was absolutely beautiful and refreshing this year, inviting me to swim through a half-mile distance in the lake each evening. Despite not having much swimming time in at the local pool, I was so glad I still had the skills and didn't find myself floating belly-up at the end of it all!

I wouldn't give up this annual visit for anything. Some day, I'd like to spend my entire summer here, or at least a fairly good portion of it.

What do you think? Any votes you'd like to share on your own spot of heaven?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Better Zucchini Bread

Okay, so if you are anything like me and have a garden, now is about the time when you have zucchini coming out of your ears.

And if you are even a tinier bit like me, you are probably asking yourself why you went ahead put another plant in your garden this past spring.

And if you are perhaps even less like me, but still one to ask further questions, you are also probably asking yourself if it would be possible to put in just 1/2 of a plant next year, because ONE plant is so MUCH MORE than enough.

In the grand scheme of things, what does this foolish questioning all add up to? One thousand and one ways to cook zucchini. Because eleven, or even thirteen ways, were never enough. It's quite possible that one thousand and one ways were necessary to keep family units from tearing each other apart over having to eat zucchini night after night. 1001 recipes might be what has kept neighbors from beating each other over the heads with it when another green-spotted club somehow got placed in the mailbox, or on the front step, or left in the middle of the lawn. 1001 recipes have probably kept children from sculpting shriveled heads from it, or tossing it in the streets, or trying to feed it to the dog. Yes, even the family dog needed that one thousand and first recipe, just to keep that vegetable from ending up in its dish.

Which begs the next question. Why I am bothering to share another recipe? Upping the recipe clutter to one thousand and two? The reason is this: I'd simply like to prove that even the internet--wired and virtual as it is--can't escape prolific production of this plant. You'll find recipes for zucchini galore on the NET and here I am offering one more.

But before you make haste with a shrug of your shoulder and go, let me assure you that this recipe for zucchini bread is very good, and probably a little bit better than yours. Why can I say this? Because this recipe isn't mine. It happens to come from the wife of a co-worker, who pawned (I mean, brought) one of her loaves to a faculty meeting one day. Knowing she was a fabulous cook, I didn't hesitate to give the old zuc bread a try. Surprisingly, it was better than I'd ever had. (Sorry Mom!)

Enjoy!

Better Zucchini Bread

3 eggs
1 cup oil
2 cups sugar

3 cups flour
3 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

2 cups grated zucchini
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup choc chips

pinch-fuls of sugar, sprinkled on top of loaf batter before baking.

Mix ingredients in order shown. Grease & flour 2 loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 50 to 70 minutes, depending on the temperament of your oven. :)

Relaxing Music for Sunday

Beat it with some blues!

Sit back and relax, preferably with a smile on your face and a favorite beverage in your hand.

Today I'm sharing a blues rock jam that was shared between some legends. B.B. King takes center stage with some other crazy guitarists and vocalists. Would have loved to have seen this show! However, this is perfect for my week-long, have-waited-all-year-lake retreat. Woot! Enjoy!