Ella Bellas Healthy Summer Squash Bread Recipes

ELLA BELLA'S HEALTHY SUMMER SQUASH BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325*.
• Grease two 9 x 5 loaf pans, spray olive oil is a healthy choice.
• Beat eggs until foamy.
• Stir in wet ingredients: sugar, summer squash, oil, applesauce and vanilla.
• Sift together dry ingredients: flour, wheat flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
• Gradually add to wet ingredients.
• Fold in raisins and optional nuts.
• Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake for 60 - 80 minutes, or until tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool for 10 minutes on cooling rack, then remove from pans.
• Cool completely on rack before slicing.

ELLA BELLA’S HEALTHY SUMMER SQUASH BREAD FROM THE MORE WITH LESS MOM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325*. Grease two 9 x 5 loaf pans, spray olive oil is a healthy choice. Beat eggs until foamy. Stir in wet ingredients: sugar, summer squash, oil, applesauce and vanilla. Sift together dry ingredients: flour, wheat flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Gradually add to wet ingredients. Fold in raisins and optional nuts. Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 60 - 80 minutes, or until tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes on cooling rack, then remove from pans. Cool completely on rack before slicing.

SUMMER SQUASH BREAD PUDDING WITH FETA

Steps:

• Slice the bread about 3/4 inch thick. If the bread is not stale, toast it lightly. Cut 1 of the garlic cloves in half and rub each slice of bread with the cut side of the garlic. Then cut the bread into 1-inch dice, place in a bowl and toss with 1 cup of the milk. Refrigerate for 1 hour, tossing every once in a while. Mince the remaining garlic and set aside.
• While the bread is soaking, place the grated squash in a colander and salt generously. Toss and let sit in the colander in the sink for 15 minutes, then squeeze out water.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish or a 10-inch ceramic tart pan. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until it begins to soften, about 3 minutes, and add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic and grated squash. Stir together until the garlic is fragrant and the squash limp, about 2 minutes. Stir in the chopped mint or dill and the parsley, and remove from the heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Remove the bowl with the soaked bread from the refrigerator. Using your hands, a whisk or an immersion blender, mash or beat the soaked bread so that the mixture turns to mush. Add the squash mixture and the feta to the bowl and stir together. Scrape into the oiled baking dish. Top with the grated Parmesan.
• Break the eggs into the bowl and beat with the remaining milk, salt to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon) and freshly ground pepper. Pour over the bread mixture and place the dish in the oven. Bake 50 to 60 minutes, until the mixture is puffed, golden brown on the top and set. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes or longer before serving.

ACORN SQUASH BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 [degrees] F. Wash, halve, and remove seeds from squash. Cut a 1-inch-thick slice off one of the squash halves; set aside. Place squash halves, cut sides down, in a baking dish. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until tender. Remove pulp from squash; discard shells. Measure 1 cup.
• Place the 1 cup of squash in a medium saucepan. Add the 1 1/2 cups milk, the sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, and salt. Heat and stir just until warm (120 [degrees] F to 130 [degrees] F). Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl combine 2 cups of the flour, the yeast, and sage. Add the squash mixture. Beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed for 30 seconds, scraping sides of the bowl. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes. Stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can, using a wooden spoon.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (6 to 8 minutes). Shape dough into a ball. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface of the dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in size (45 to 60 minutes).
• Punch dough down. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Cover; let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, lightly grease two 8x4x2-inch loaf pans.
• Gently shape each portion into a loaf, tucking edges under. Place the shaped dough in the prepared loaf pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until nearly double in size (about 30 minutes).
• Preheat oven to 375 [degrees] F. Use a vegetable peeler to make several thin strips from the reserved 1-inch slice of squash. Brush surface of bread with milk. Place squash strips on top of loaf. Brush squash strips with the melted butter.
• Bake about 35 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when you tap the top with your fingers. (If necessary, cover loosely with foil the last 15 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning.) Immediately remove bread from pans. Cool on wire racks. Makes 2 loaves (32 servings).

SPICY SQUASH BREAD

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, add the first 8 ingredients; stir to combine; set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, add the eggs, sugar, oil, sour cream, and preserves; stir to combine.
• Add in shredded squash; stir to combine.
• Gradually add in dry ingredients, stir well.
• Pour mixture into a greased and floured 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loafpan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, 5 minutes or until pick comes out clean.
• Cool for 10 minutes in the pan; turn out onto a wire rack and let cool completely.

SUMMER SQUASH GRATIN WITH PICKLED RYE BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Slice squash 1/4-inch thick, sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt, and place in a colander set in the sink for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour, tossing occasionally with your hands. Gather the squash in a kitchen towel or paper towel and squeeze gently to remove excess moisture.
• While the squash drains, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon pickle juice and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Stir until all the butter is absorbed, transfer to a bowl and set aside. Wipe the skillet clean using a paper towel.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter in the skillet over medium-low. Add the onions and cook, tossing occasionally, until the onions are lightly caramelized, 15 to 20 minutes. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons pickle juice, the garlic, thyme, red-pepper flakes, pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Off the heat, stir in 2 tablespoons butter until melted.
• Add half the squash to the skillet and toss with tongs until combined. Add the rest of the squash and toss again. Add the Gruyère, along with 1/3 of the bread crumbs and toss well. Arrange into one packed layer, sprinkle with the remaining bread crumbs and bake until browned and bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. Serve hot.