Blogging A to Z in April, 2026

 

Two years ago, I participated in the Blogging A to Z challenge in April. I'm feeling the urge to participate again this year. We'll see how that goes! 

As you can see, this blog hasn't seen any activity since the last time I participated, even though I have full intentions of blogging here more. 

I hope you'll follow along!

Zucchini

 

Yeah, what else did you expect me to blog about? 

Everyone knows about zucchini. Probably everyone who gardens has an abundance of this squash! I know when I had gardens in Montana, zucchini was the one plant that would thrive! And multiply! And take over the garden! LOL

The squash is such a versatile food. You can use it to make zucchini bread, make zucchini cake, make a casserole, or just sauté it with yellow summer squash, tomatoes, onions and peppers for a tasty vegetable side dish.

Zucchini Casserole (from my first mother-in-law)

Grate zucchini squash and onion, chop in fresh tomatoes and green pepper. Grate cheese and add bread crumbs. bake about 30 minutes.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. oil

1 3/4 c sugar

2 eggs

1/2 c. buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 c. flour

1/2 c. Hershey's cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

2=3 c shredded zucchini

1 c nuts

1 c dates (optional)

Mix ingredients in the order given. Spread in 9"x13" pan, greased. Sprinkle with 1/2 c chocolate chips. bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes or until tests done. Frost with cream cheese for chocolate frosting after it's cooled, or serve warm with whipped cream. 

(Sometime, I'll have to attempt to "veganize" this!)

Thank you for joining me on this journey through the alphabet! My hopes are that this jumpstart will help to keep me blogging on this blog consistently. Please check back often!

Yeast

 

What else could I come up with but yeast? Who doesn't like a delicious loaf of homemade, whole grain bread? Yum!

It's been awhile since I made bread. I used to make it often when my children were young. I'd mix it by hand, and knead it by hand, and form the loaves, then pop them into the oven. A few years back, I splurged and got a bread machine. My middle son got pretty good at making bread in it. I even had a mill, to grind wheat into flour. I passed that on to my middle son a couple years ago.

Yeast can also be used to make pizza dough. My middle son can make a delicious pizza dough now, too! 

Besides baking yeast, there is also nutritional yeast, often called brewer's yeast. It's packed with B vitamins! It has a somewhat cheesy flavor, which makes it good in making cashew "cheese," or parmesan "cheese." It's also delicious sprinkled on popcorn! That's my daughter's favorite way to use nutritional yeast.

Maybe you'd like to try some the next time you pop up a bowl of popcorn1 (By the way, I think it can be found at most stores. I know we can find it at Publix in town. Otherwise, you can order it on Amazon.)

Xylose, Xylitol, Xanthan gum

 

Xylose is a crystalline aldose sugar that is not fermentable with ordinary yeasts and occurs especially as a constituent of xylans from which it is obtained by hydrolysis.

Flaxseed and chia seed polysaccharides are heterogeneous mixtures of various sugars including xylose and glucose.

—Liz Roth-Johnson, Discover Magazine, 30 Apr. 2013

Xylitol is a crystalline alcohol that is a derivative of xylose, is obtained especially from birch bark, and is used as a sweetener.

Sugar alcohols, including mannitol, sorbitol, and xylitol, are sweeteners in many sugar-free products.

—Amanda MacMillan, Health, 24 Mar. 2024

Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide that is produced by fermentation of carbohydrates by a gram-negative bacterium (Xanthomonas campestris) and is a thickening and suspending agent used especially in pharmaceuticals and prepared foods.

Yeah, here are some food related "X" words. What can you come up with for "X"?

Water

 

NEWSTART

Because the body is 70% water, keeping well hydrated and knowing what and when to drink are essential to health. Hydrotherapy (water applied externally to the body), followed by massage, enhances the circulation and immune system in wonderful ways.

What can ease arthritis symptoms, aid digestion, improve blood pressure and maximize the impact of oxygen and nutrients in your blood? Learn how something as simple as water works to improve health. 

One thing I always try to do is drink water throughout the day. I still don't think I drink enough, but I'm working on it. I have the habit of drinking a pint of warm/hot water first thing in the morning.

My daughter recently introduced me to a self-care app that I am using to help me remember to drink water at specific times throughout the day. I use it to remind me of other tasks as well. Even though I am "old" I still find it fun to use. Check out Finch. Use my invite code NDKCVSTHFQ once you get the app. https://app.befinch.com/invite/isg2 

Learn more through NEWSTART NOW

Vegetables and Vitamins

 

We all know adequate doses of various vitamins are important. We also know that eating vegetables assists in consuming those vitamins.

The dictionary says: 

noun

plural noun: vitamins

any of a group of organic compounds which are essential for normal growth and nutrition and are required in small quantities in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the body.

"most people can get all the vitamins they need from a healthy diet"

Sometimes it's necessary to take vitamins in pill form, if one doesn't get the proper quantity through one's diet.

Top 10 Essential Vitamins and Minerals

1. Vitamin A
2. Vitamin B
3. Vitamin C
4. Vitamin D
5. Vitamin E
6. Vitamin K
7. Calcium
8. Iron
9. Magnesium
10. Zinc

(source: Good Neighbor Script)

A rainbow of vegetables should be eaten regularly. Often, green vegetables seem to be the most frequently avoided, but they are literally a gold mine of nutrients and phytochemicals. 

Benefits of green vegetables:

• Reduced risk of chronic diseases
• Cardiovascular protection
• Inflammation fighters
• Diabetes protection
• Bone protection and more
• Source of calcium and iron
• Pigments fight for us
• Cancer fighting activities

It's advisable to enjoy at least one serving of green veggies a day for good health.

Un-meatballs

 

I haven't made this un-meatballs in quite awhile. I made them often when the kids were young. I haven't "veganized" this recipe yet, either. It shouldn't be hard to do, though.

1 1/2 c. whole wheat bread crumbs

1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese (could use vegan cheese instead)

1/2 c. chopped walnuts

4 to 6 eggs, beaten (could use equivalent in egg replacer)

1/2 c. chopped onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. salt

Oil for browning

 

Combine bread crumbs, grated cheese, walnuts, eggs, onion, garlic and salt in bowl; knead to mix well. Shape by tablespoons into balls. Brown meatballs in oil in skillet; drain. Place in 2-quart casserole dish, top with spaghetti sauce. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes. Top with 1/2 cup grated cheese. bake for 10 minutes longer. May freeze and reheat. 

Yield: 6 servings

I hope you enjoy. I received a copy of this recipe from a LaLeche League meeting I attended, way back when my oldest was a baby. Enjoy!

Trust and Temperence

NEWSTART

Using good things moderately and avoiding the bad is obviously wise, yet often hard to practice. Temperance can be neither bought nor earned, but is rather an important gift of God, a “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22, 23). Moderation in all things is a thread woven throughout the fabric of NEWSTART Lifestyle programs.

Directly linked to physical health (Proverbs 3:5-6), trust in God is a gift leading to right choices.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5,6, KJV