Grandma's Zucchini Brownies
This recipe is not a tradition, nor is it a cultural dish. This recipe is the representation of a bond I hold with my grandmother and how my feelings have changed while making these over the years. Every summer, my family would visit my grandparents in British Columbia. Home to the best chef in my family, my grandmother. From pies and pastries to soups and stews, she could do it all from any scraps she found. Grandma had these special recipes, ones only she and I made together. One of those being her zucchini brownies. This was our recipe.
On a bright summer’s morning, she and I would get up before anyone else to make these brownies for the day. It was a dusty kitchen, with old cabinets and old machinery, but that’s what made it the best. You could always taste how homemade it was, how pure the ingredients were. Grandma grew her own zucchini, just for the perfect homemade brownies.
We smiled and laughed, danced and joked, all in that kitchen. We’d eat the brownies under her patio as we painted rocks from the creek and we’d watch hummingbirds drink from her feeder. All with the summer’s heat beaming on our faces.
As the years went on, grandma and I made the brownies less and less often. This past summer I visited my grandparents. Things felt different. As people get older, they slow down and so does everything around them. Remembering how vibrant my grandma used to be in the kitchen makes me sad and often I regret not spending more time with her. Next summer I hope to bake with her again, for you never know how long people will be around.
On a bright summer’s morning, she and I would get up before anyone else to make these brownies for the day. It was a dusty kitchen, with old cabinets and old machinery, but that’s what made it the best. You could always taste how homemade it was, how pure the ingredients were. Grandma grew her own zucchini, just for the perfect homemade brownies.
We smiled and laughed, danced and joked, all in that kitchen. We’d eat the brownies under her patio as we painted rocks from the creek and we’d watch hummingbirds drink from her feeder. All with the summer’s heat beaming on our faces.
As the years went on, grandma and I made the brownies less and less often. This past summer I visited my grandparents. Things felt different. As people get older, they slow down and so does everything around them. Remembering how vibrant my grandma used to be in the kitchen makes me sad and often I regret not spending more time with her. Next summer I hope to bake with her again, for you never know how long people will be around.
Recipe
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
- ½ cup (112 g) vegetable oil
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (256 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (64 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups finely shredded zucchini
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 8x12 pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine oil, sugar, and vanilla. Mix until combined.
- Then, add flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Mix until combined.
- Fold in zucchini shreds with spatula. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes.
- Spread the brownie mixture into the 8x12 pan, then bake for 25-35 minutes.
- You will know the brownies are ready when you can poke a toothpick in the center of the brownie and the toothpick comes out clean.
Image credits; Image one(1) by Maria Lichty on 'twopeasandtheirpod.com.' Images two(2), three(3), four(4) and five(5) by 'Crazy for Crust' on Youtube.