~Chocolatey Banana/Zucchini Loaf~

I was given some yellow zucchini from our delightful 75yr. old gardening neighbour….Paired it with some chocolate and banana….Turned out really good.  Took the photo’s just after it came out of the oven – you can see the milk & dark chocolate oozing out 🙂  ( I love chocolate )

-Ingredients – 1 1/2 c. flour,  1/2 t. baking soda, 1t. baking powder,  1/4 t. himalayan salt,  1 1/2 t. cinnamon,  1/4 c. baking cocoa powder,  1/4 c. ground flax.

3 banana’s,  2 eggs,  3/4 c. brown sugar,  1/2 c. applesauce,  2c. grated/squeezed zucchini,  1 t. vanilla,  3T. plain yogurt – optional

1/2 c. ground walnuts,  1 c. ( or more) chocolate pieces (from your favourite chocolate bar or chocolate carob chips, 3 or 4 T. fine coconut.

Preheat oven to 375′ – grease bottom of pan and sprinkle with coconut. Mix flour,  b. powder,  b.soda,  salt,  cinnamon,  cocoa powder and flax together and set aside.

In food processor, mix banana’s – add eggs,  brown sugar,  and applesauce.  Pour into larger bowl and add grated zucchini,  vanilla and yogurt. Mix dry ingredients into banana/zucchini bowl until just combined ( no over-mixing ) Gently fold in walnuts and chocolate.

Bake 10 min. @ 375′ then lower temp. to 350′ for another 35-40 min. When done, let sit for 5 min. then loosen loaf sides from the pan with a butter knife and turn out onto a cake rack.

Notes:                                                                                                                            Let grated zucchini sit on a clean towel for 10 min. then squeeze out excess moisture.

Use really ripe banana’s for best flavour.

I used 1c. white flour and 1/2 c. whole wheat flour.

If you don’t eat eggs, you could use 1T. fresh ground flax seed mixed with 2 1/2 T. of water ( let sit for 5 min. ) to replace each egg.

All ingredients used were organic.