Very Special Christmas Gift

My sister, sister-in-law, daughter and I all received a wonderful surprise Christmas gift form our Aunt Yvonne this year. it was a a loaf of Zucchini Bread made from our great-aunt Clara's recipe. But even better, we also got the RECIPE! It's probably not a secret recipe, but oh my, it's good--mine is almost GONE already!

My Aunt Clara was a hairdresser and had her own salon, with my Uncle Bobby and his wife, Terry. I had my first haircut there, which I don't rremember really, because I was very young. Uncle Bobby always said he had cut off enough of my hair "to stuff a matttess" every time. He cut my hair throughout my childhood--until I graduated from high school.
My mother went every week to get her hair done there, and still goes to the salon, though not as often. Bobby retired quite a while ago, and Aunt Clara's been gone for many years.

And here's the recipe. Do your part to rid the world of surplus Zucchini!

Aunt Clara Pichette’s Zucchini Bread

Makes two large loaves or 4 small ones. Baking time is for large loaves

Preheat oven to 350’
Grease or spray pans with non-stick spray.

INGREDIENTS
2 eggs
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup cooking oil (your choice)
2 cups grated zucchini
1tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1tsp. cinnamon
¾ tsp baking powder
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

TO MAKE
In a large bowl:
Beat eggs well.
Add sugar and beat well
Add vanilla, oil and zucchini and mix well
In a smaller bowl:
Sift flour with baking soda, salt, cinnamon and baking powder
Add to zucchini mixture and mix to combine ingredients
Add nuts

TO BAKE
Divide mixture between pans
Bake at 350’ for 15 minutes
Turn oven down to 325’ and bake for 1 hour (adjust time for smaller loaves)
Loaves are done when toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool and ENJOY!