Happy Monday friends! I’m feeling good about getting this week kicked off right. We had a great production meeting yesterday and today we are getting back to our daily exercise and healthy smoothie routine. I love Earth Burger and Thai Hot, but we have to balance eating out with cooking healthy meals at home. That said, I can’t wait till the next time we visit either of those restaurants, it’s all about supporting local businesses (and amazing vegan food).

Anyway! I have been baking at home lately and my new favorite quick bread recipe is this Zucchini Banana Bread. I got burnt out on my old Banana Bread Muffin recipe (which is still my Mom’s favorite), so I’ve been looking for a new banana bread recipe to try. When I saw Isa over on PPK share this recipe with zucchini, I just had to try it.

Vegan Zucchini Banana Bread
Makes 1 loaf, Recipe adapted from Post Punk Kitchen

· 1 large ripe banana
· 3/4 cups organic sugar
· 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
· 1/4 cup canola oil
· 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
· 1 cup grated zucchini
· 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
· 1 teaspoon cinnamon
· 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
· 3/4 teaspoon salt
· 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Preheat your oven to 350° F. Lightly grease an 8×4 or 9×5 metal bread pan with canola oil. In a large mixing bowl, use a strong fork to mash the banana. Mix in the sugar, applesauce, canola oil, and vanilla. Then add the grated zucchini, no need to press out the excess moisture from the zucchini. Add in 1 cup of the flour, the cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Mix with a large spoon to combine. Lastly, stir in the remaining 1/2 cup flour and the walnuts. Pour the batter to the prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and check the bread by sticking a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean, it’s ready. If it needs more time, turn heat down to 300° F and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes and transfer to a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely before slicing and serving, enjoy!

I love zucchini in baked goods, my favorite homemade cookie recipe is my Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies, which I just might be baking today for a surprise event. I’m terrible at keeping secrets, so let’s just change the subject! My blog has received lots of attention the last few days since my Vegan White Pizza was published on Finding Vegan. Thanks to all of you who have visited in the last few days, it’s nice to meet you all!

Vegan News

· Join the San Antonio Vegetarian Society for an outdoor feast at Earth Burger tomorrow, June 24 at 7pm. If you’d like to attend, RSVP on Meetup.

· Have you heard about Soylent? It’s FDA approved product designed to replace food. It’s a very futuristic way to think about nutrition. Luckily the powder is vegan, but you have to create your own “plant-based oil blend in order to ensure the correct nutritional profile”.

· Check out this Houston based Community-Based Photography Project called No One’s Dog. They are asking the Houston community to share images of homeless dogs with the hope that increased visibility will lead to positive change in the lives of residents and animals alike. Selected images will be exhibited at DiverseWorks from July 26 – August 9, 2014.

xo angie