Sentimental Journey

Not surprisingly, now that I've made the decision to leave my home, sentimentality is setting in. I have just over one week left in my house, and I've started to note the last time I'll do things. For example, I picked a bouquet of hydrangeas last night and thought to myself, "that's probably the last time I'll pick a bouquet of hydrangeas from my front yard."

And how pretty they look on my [almost] barren mantel! When the time comes for another garden, hydrangeas will be one of the first flowers planted, along with peonies.

Another favorite thing I did for the last time in my house this week was bake. My neighbor gave me a monster of a zucchini, (the length of my forearm!) which I could not let go to waste. I dug out my favorite zucchini bread recipe and got to work.

Zucchini-Oat Bread

Nonstick cooking spray

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup rolled oats

1 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3 eggs

1 cup applesauce

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups shredded, unpeeled zucchini

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

3/4 cup raisins

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with cooking spray; set aside. Combine 1 tablespoon of the sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon; set aside. Combine flour, oats, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and remaining cinnamon; set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat eggs with electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes or until foamy. Add remaining sugar, the applesauce, butter, and vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture, beating on low speed just until combined. Stir in zucchini, nuts, and raisins. Spoon into prepared pan. Sprinkle with sugar-cinnamon mixture.

2. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on rack.

My baking dishes are all packed away now, and the zucchini bread has been doled out to friends and neighbors. Leaving my home is going to be one of the hardest things I've ever done -- despite my best efforts to remain detached and unemotional -- but also an exciting step in a new direction. And someday, I'm certain, I will live in another sweet little house with a pretty little garden and counter space galore!