Chocolate chip zucchini bread

Every summer my little family and I plant multiple zucchini plants. We end up with tons and tons of zucchini, and then I ask myself why I planted so much. But, the zucchini are put to good use…I love to grill the zucchini, saute, stuff them, its great in salads, steamed, eat it raw, give it away to friends.. whatever! But of course one of my most favorite things to do with it is BAKE!

This is such a great recipe for chocolate chip zucchini bread (and if you have picky little one’s at home, they’ll never know that there are veggies in the bread, promise!)
Here’s what you need:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup applesauce
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups finely shredded zucchini (about 1 medium)
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• Cooking spray

Here’s what you do:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Place first 3 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at low speed until well blended. Stir in applesauce.
3. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and the next 4 ingredients (through salt), stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture, beating just until moist. Stir in the zucchini and chocolate chips. Spoon batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack, and remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

It’s good!