A Busy Saturday

I had a busy day planned for Saturday, so I set the alarm for 7:30 AM. I shaved and showered and then left for a haircut.

I had made up a grocery shopping list the night before so, after my haircut, I headed to Meijer's. It was cool here with a bit of a north breeze. It was the first big shopping trip I've done in over a month or so (I've just been picking up what I needed, but now my staples have started running out). So, I got very few food items, but lots of toilet bowl cleaner, laundry detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, baggies, etc. I was not surprised that the bill came to $145.00 US.

Back home, it took quite a while to put everything away.

I know Jake said he'd be stopping by after class (around 2:30 PM) to borrow my air compressor. So, I got it in my head to make a Lemon Zucchini bread recipe I'd noticed. But, there was a problem. I don't have any zucchini. So, I walked next door to borrow a couple. I asked Rick, but he said they didn't have any planted, just butternut squash.

So, I got back in the car and went over to Westborn with a mental grocery list. I picked up the zucchini, some celery, carrots and parsnips. But the trouble with mental grocery lists is you can forget or overlook items and I did! I forgot lettuce. Damn!

Back home, I grated two cups of zucchini. I preheated the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). I opened all the windows at that point, although it wasn't even 60 degrees F. outside. I thought the house could use a good airing out. I greased two loaf pans, and then sprinkled sugar into the bottom and on the sides of the greased pans.

I whisked three eggs, two cups of sugar (that seemed excessive even then, but I was following a recipe, okay?), one cup of vegetable oil, one teaspoon of vanilla extract, and the zest of a whole lemon together in a large bowl.

Here's where I ran into another problem! I also was supposed to add a teaspoon of lemon extract. I don't have lemon extract, but I do have lemons. So, I checked on the helpful Web and found there is no real correlation between lemon extract and fresh lemon juice (lemon extract has alcohol in it that changes the basic flavor). So, I took a gamble and added the juice of the whole lemon I'd just zested.

I mixed three cups of flour, a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder together in a separate bowl. I added that to the egg mixture and stirred until the batter was thick. Then I folded the zucchini into the batter. I poured my batter into the prepared loaf pans.

Now the instructions were to bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, (about one hour). You then cooled the loaves in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

However, Jake came about 1/2 hour early! Now, I know he's got a lot to do today, too, so I told him I'd drop off the loaf to him at work on Monday (I have to go over there, anyway).

He checked out my bike and gave it his stamp of approval. Then he left.

When the hour was up, I checked the bread. The toothpick came out clean, so I put the loaf pans on the cutting board to cool. After 10 minutes, I took them (well, tried to take them) out of the pans and set them on a rack. Some of the bottom stuff stuck to the pans, so the loaves are not pretty (on the bottom) and Lord know I like a pretty bottom!

But, it did give me a chance to taste it without cutting into a loaf. Whoa!!! W-A-Y too sweet for me! But, I don't like sweet, so maybe it is just me. I'll let Jake and Carla tell me what's what. The actual consistency is perfect, though. But, it didn't rise at all!

I did a thorough house cleaning after shutting the windows when I shut off the oven.

I checked the mail around 4:00 PM - still no title. Damn! So, I call the lady I bought the bike from, but only got her answering machine. I left a message asking if I got it wrong or if I gave her the wrong address. I was really hoping to ride that bad boy this weekend! :o(

I reheated the oil and remade yesterday's dinner: fried clams and onion rings. This time the clams were perfect!

I watched some taped shows and a movie and then went to bed around 10:00 PM.