Lemon Zucchini Bread

This delicious Lemon Zucchini Bread is amazingly good!  Yep, there’s zucchini in it!

I adapted an original recipe found on Pinterest a while back and made it my own.  Now don’t be afraid of the zucchini if you’ve never had any type of zucchini bread because you won’t taste it!  Plus, I shred the zucchini very finely and it’s barely even noticeable.  You could peel the zucchini, but I don’t peel mine.  The zucchini is important though, because it makes this delicious bread amazingly good!

And, it’s amazingly easy to make, too!

If you like sweet breads you’ll love this!  I think it tastes very similar to the lemon cake at Starbucks!

~*~

This was fresh from the oven and the house smelled so good!  I found the recipe back in late summer and we have had it a few more times since.  We really like this sweet bread and I think it's perfect any time of the year, no matter the season.  It truly is delicious!  My husband was skeptical at first but he was surprised that it doesn't taste like there is zucchini in it!  I hope you'll give it a try!

I figured it would be great as something different on the dessert table for Thanksgiving!

Lemon Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup granulated sugar

Zest of 1 large lemon

2 large eggs

1/2 cup oil (vegetable or canola oil) -I used melted coconut oil

3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup grated zucchini

Glaze: Optional 

1 cup powdered sugar

4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 8 x 4 inch loaf pan.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In another bowl, combine sugar and lemon zest, and stir well. 

Add eggs, oil, lemon juice, and vanilla, and stir until smooth.  Stir in the dry ingredients until combined. 

Fold the zucchini into the batter and pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. 

Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Allow to rest in the pan for 10-15 minutes before removing the loaf onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

While the bread is cooling, make the glaze by combining the powdered sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth. 

Drizzle the glaze over the bread.  Slice and serve.

Enjoy!...

Fall/Thanksgiving Tablescape

Thanksgiving is only days away now and soon we’ll all be gathered around our tables enjoying one of the best meals of the year!

I’m looking forward to sharing the day with my family, and enjoying all the delicious food as we give “Thanks” for our many blessings!

~*~

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!...

Welcome Pillow - Gift Idea/Offer

Hi Friends, today I have a great gift idea and an offer for you!...

It’s almost time to “Welcome” Family & Friends into our homes for Thanksgiving and Christmas is soon to follow!

~This sweet pillow I have here is a lovely welcome, it’s a wonderful creation from my friend Charlie over at Pillow Panels.   These pillows are so great because you can change them with the seasons, holidays and for different occasions! You simply change the front panel, “It’s the pillow you never put away!”

There are a few different styles of pillows and many, many different panels to choose from and some custom options, too.  The extra panels can be conveniently stored inside the zippered back. How awesome is that?  

Speaking of awesome, Charlie has given me an offer to share with you - 20% off when you order your pillow(s) using the coupon code CHRISTMAS20 - Last ship date is December 20th!  I’m so pleased with mine and I love how I have several pillows in just one pillow now!  What a space saver!

Go check out @pillowpanels on Instagram for a link to her shop or visit pillowpanels.com and see these beautiful, amazing and fun pillows!  I’m sure you, and/or someone on your gift list, will love them!

Fall Shelf Decor

I have a few spaces in our home that I enjoy changing for the seasons and holidays. This space is definitely one of them!

Hubby put this shelf up for me long ago.  I knew it world be perfect for this spot, and fun to decorate.

Sometimes I make only minimal changes or add just a bit of a holiday or seasonal touch.  

I've enjoyed using greens and golds this Fall season, they're two of my favorite colors so I'm happy they have been popular this year!

I’m just getting used to fall and pumpkins around here, although I’m beginning to see lots of Christmas inspiration that has begun.  There are many ideas floating around in my mind at the moment!

Fall Decor~Greens, Golds and Pumpkins

How is it the last weekend of October already?!  We’ve had a couple chilly mornings, but it’s been warm most days and there is still plenty of green outside.  My clematis vine even has new blooms on it!  We’ve definitely had some weather swings, but that is true to the South!

A touch of Fall over here in front of the window is a match to the greens and golds in the view beyond!  I found this beautiful heart shaped tin container at the thrift store, I love it all the more now filled with greenery and a Fall variety!

My happy heart loves a thrifty bargain, and anything heart shaped!!!

Happy decorating!...

Fall Wreath

I made something pretty for our front door today!  This lovely Fall wreath.  We are just inside the second month of the Fall season and some of the beautiful Fall colors are appearing outside.  

It's been so hot and dry here that I've wondered if we will even see much Fall color change before the leaves just dry up and fall off!

We have a storm door, so a lower profile wreath is needed due to the narrow space between the two doors.

I chose to use a simple wire wreath form and covered it with burlap/mesh ribbon folded in half.

Next I cut-off part of the stems from two floral picks, placed them in opposite directions and attached them and a pre-made bow, using floral wire.

It was simple, easy and low cost!  And, I can easily change the look for another season or holiday, too!

- Items List, Sources & Prices:

Floral Picks - Hobby Lobby 1/2 off =1.99 ea

Ribbon - Hobby Lobby 1/2 off =3.98 per 10 yd roll (Used appox 1 yard)

Wire wreath - Dollartree =1.00

Bow - from a recent gift pkg =.00

This will easily adorn my door until Christmas decor makes its way there!

I hope you've found this easy wreath inspiring and you'll make something pretty for your door too!

Happy Crafting and Decorating!...

Fall Centerpiece Basket

I created this lovely Fall centerpiece by adding some lamb’s ear greenery, sunflowers, and a faux pumpkin to this pretty basket I recently found at a thrift store.

The basket was only two bucks and it was already painted in a neutral color, which matches well with my decor.  I love it when that happens, don’t you?!

I always encourage others to have a look at the thrift stores and antique markets!  You never know what treasures you'll find!

  

~ I’ll enjoy styling this thrifty treasure throughout the seasons!...

Thrifty Fall Tablescape

It’s always fun to set a pretty table!

Those golden suede pumpkins were my inspiration for this festive Fall tablescape.

I pulled this fall setting together by using mostly $one dollar$ items and what I already had on hand!

The beautiful amber glass candle holders-with medal leaves attached, Fall florals-(tucked into the lamb’s ear greenery), plain & printed napkins, and burlap leaves are all from the Dollar Tree.

The adorable golden/mustard suede pumpkins are from Target.

Total cost was 10 bucks!

I shared my thrifty Fall Centerpiece makeover in a previous post.

I enjoy the challenge of not spending a lot to change up my decor!  “It doesn’t have to be expensive to make it beautiful!”

Happy Decorating!...

Fall Centerpiece

I recently did a little restyling to my thrifty centerpiece that I shared back in the summer, and now it’s updated for Fall!

I visited the Dollar Tree and found these cute auburn colored candle holders, each with a sweet little metal leaf attached to it! And, I also got some Fall florals to tuck into the lamb’s ear greenery I had on it before!

Just a couple bucks to transform and update it!  That's my favorite kind of decorating!

A glimpse of the before, after the original makeover.  See the original post here!

Next I'll be sharing a thrifty fall tablescape!  I'm off to do some shopping!