grilled pitas with fresh herbs

These grilled pitas are a family favorite, and an easy way to let the kids help with dinner prep. They love brushing the bread with olive oil and sprinkling on the salt and herbs. You can chop any herbs you like but since I always make them when we eat yogurt marinated grilled chicken I often use chopped cilantro from that dish and mix in some chopped parsley. Use a pastry brush to lightly coat the pitas and sprinkle them with a little sea salt and some herbs. Place them on the grill, turning when they are very lightly browned. If they start to puff up they are done, but this does not always happen. Serve immediately...I always make sure these are the last thing grilled since they are really best when nice and hot and they are ready in about 2 minutes.

zucchini bread

When Lauren was pregnant with her second child she developed gestational diabetes. She really missed carbs and sugar and always had her eye out for things that would satisfy her cravings without hurting her blood sugar.

One day while I was at her house she was making this bread. The original recipe was from Epicurious.com and can be found here. She made a few changes in an attempt to keep on her diet and the result was great. Just look at that bowl full of vegetables! No guilt required.

Recipe adapted from Epicurious.com:

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 teaspons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

3/4 vegetable oil

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups grated zucchini

1 1/2 cups grated peeled carrots

1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Heat oven to 350°. Butter and flour a 9x5 loaf pan and set aside. Sift together both flours, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Beat sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla in a large bowl. Add zucchini, carrots, walnuts, and dry ingredients and stir until well combined. Transfer batter to prepared loaf pan and bake for an hour and 15 minutes, or until top is springy and a tester inserted into center comes out clean. 

Allow bread to cool in pan for 15 minutes before unmolding.