Recipe: Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread (with pecans, orange zest and spices)

CHOCOLATE CHIP ZUCCHINI BREAD

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 eggs
2 cups white granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon orange zest
FOR SERVING (OPTIONAL):
Whipped cream
Zucchini ribbons

Preheat oven at 350 degrees F. Grease 2 (9 by 5-inch) loaf pans.

Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder and spices; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and fluffy. Add sugar, and continue beating until well blended. Stir in oil, vanilla, zucchini, pecans, chocolate chips, and orange zest. Stir in sifted ingredients. Pour into prepared loaf pans.

Bake for 50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove loaves from pans and cool. Chill before slicing.

Serve with whipped cream and ribbons of zucchini.

Makes 2 loaves
Adapted from source: Paula Deen, 2008