Zucchini Cheddar Bread (~form Carla Hall's cookbook "Carla Hall's Soul Food")
Ingredients
Unsalted butter
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
pinch of cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese, plus more for sprinkling
2 tablespoons chopped scallion
2 large eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9 by 5 inch loaf pan, line the bottom with parchment paper, and butter the parchment
Gently squeeze the zucchini between paper towels to remove excess liquid. Whisk both flours, the baking powder, baking soda, salt, black pepper, and cayenne in a large bowl. Add the zucchini, cheese, and scallion and toss until evenly coated and separated.
Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, and oil in another large bowl until blended. It's okay if the liquid looks a little broken. Add the flour mixture, and fold until evenly moistened. Pour into the prepared pan. Spread evenly and sprinkle a little cheese on top.
Bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes (baked for another 5-10 min). Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then turn out of the pan and cool completely on the rack.
Make ahead: you can let the bread cool completely, then freeze for up to 2 months. To serve, thaw and then bake in a 350 degrees F oven until toasted and warm.
