The following “Chew This!” column has been reprinted from “The Courier-Times”, Saturday September 5th 2020 edition. By: Blaise Doubman. This column also appeared in “The Shelbyville News.”

Secret Zucchini Bread Recipe
Blaise Doubman

When my Grandma Deloris passed away, almost 10 months ago now, my Mom, Darla, kept quite a few of her favorite shirts. Shirts that she got gotten my Grandma over the years, each holding a special memory to her. My Mom tried to think about what she would like made from the shirts but could not really decide. She had a teddy bear made from my Grandpa Max’s shirts not awfully long after he passed away and she thought about doing the same thing with Grandma’s shirts, but she wanted something different this time. We all started brainstorming to come up with an idea. I reached out on Facebook for suggestions and a friend of mine suggested we talk with a woman named Carolynn Hyde. I reached out to her through Messenger and an instant friendship was born! She is one of the nicest, most talented people I have the pleasure of knowing. We decided on a quilt and Mom and I was not sure what to expect. I think we both thought of a square based traditional style quilt. We dropped off the shirts and waited patiently for her to call when it was finished. When she called you could tell she was excited with how it turned out. She said she used the pattern called “Sunbonnet Sue”, which my Mom and I had never heard of before. We anxiously went to pick it up and were over the moon with joy and excitement. It was breathtaking! The colors, the pattern, the shirts that made up the quilt and the professional way it was all put together. It was really emotional. Mom and I could not have been happier or more satisfied with how it turned out!

After we got to talking with Carolynn, she was telling us that she had been quilting for over 20 years. She said some of her quilts had been for clients, but many were for charity. You could tell when talking with her that she knew her stuff, but you could also tell she loved what she did. Her craft room, where we picked up the quilt, was a fabulously colorful room filled with quilts, ribbons, sewing machines and all colors of spools of thread. It was a cozy, beautiful workplace. After we got to talking more, we found out that Carolynn and her husband Bill, also make and sell breads at the local Farmer’s Market! On a side note, she gifted me an apple jalapeño bread that was deliciously different and very tasty. She said she loves quilting and baking both but if she had to pick, she would pick quilting. Before leaving Carolynn and I made an agreement. She would teach me how to make roll up cakes and I would teach her how to make cinnamon rolls. The recipe I am sharing today is not a recipe from Carolynn but a recipe that I am dedicating to her and maybe she could add it to the breads that she already loves to bake. Thanks Carolynn!

Secret Zucchini Bread Recipe

The nuts in this recipe are optional and versatile but they really do pull the flavors of the zucchini bread together. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. If freezing the bread, wrap well with plastic wrap and aluminum foil.

3 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups white granulated sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
2 cups white all-purpose flour
1 small package instant butterscotch pudding mix
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ cup quick cooking oats
1 cup nuts, optional

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a regular size bread pan with non-stick cooking spray containing flour.

In a large bowl beat together well the large eggs, vegetable oil, white granulated sugar and grated zucchini until mixed and well combined.

Add in the white all-purpose flour, package of instant butterscotch pudding mix, salt, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, pure vanilla extract, quick cooking oats and nuts.

Mix until the mixture is evenly combined and smooth.

Pour into the prepared bread pan and smooth out the top.

Bake, in preheated oven, for 1 hour.

Remove and allow to cool for 20 minutes. Unmold from the bread pan and allow to cool completely on a piece of parchment paper at room temperature.

Ask and Answer: Ever since I posted a photo of the quilt that Carolynn Hyde made for my Mom, using Grandma Deloris shirts, I have been bombarded with requests for Carolynn’s contact information. You can contact Carolynn through Facebook, phone 317-439-6957 or through email at cjhydeaway@sbcglobal.net If wanting to order by Christmas, contact ASAP