Dammit, I’m Part of the Plastics Problem

Name: Cinnamon Sugar Topped Zucchini Bread
Yield: 20 servings
Ingredients: 3 eggs; 2 cups sugar; 2 tsp vanilla; ¾ cup canola or any vegetable oil; 3 cups grated zucchini (drained- see instruction); 3 cups flour; 1 tsp baking powder; 1 tsp baking soda; ½ tsp salt; 1 ½ tsp cinnamon; 1 cup drained crushed pineapple (In pineapple juice); Additional 1-2 tablespoons butter for the top of the bread when it's done; 2 tbsp sugar; 1 tsp cinnamon

August 8, 2024

See all this? These are the plastic containers I’ve gone through in probably the past three to six months. Yes, I do eat that much spinach and lettuce and fruit. But hey, I’ve really cut down on the Costco chickens! You’d think I’d weigh seven pounds by now.

These containers are all from Costco, but sadly, I have others too. I did try to convince Craig Jelinek, the company advisor and director of Costco to stop selling things packaged in plastic, along with plastic plates and cutlery, but he never responded. Surprise, surprise. I think just not buying the items in the clamshells will send a stronger message than trying to reason with a CEO via snail mail. If everyone did it, maybe companies would listen.

Since I’m usually little Miss Environment, admitting my flagrant use of single use plastics is akin to a public walk of shame minus the exciting night of fornication that usually goes with it.

I’ve actually been known to go to parties and pull those heavy duty plastic plates out of the trash (unbeknownst to the host/hostess) thoroughly wash them and put them back in the clean pile. If you haven’t thought of plastics as a problem, read this National Geographic article that explains plastic pollution.

If you’re thinking, but wait…I recycle mine! It may be true that you put yours in the recycling bin, but there’s a good chance they’re just getting tossed into a landfill. To learn why, read this info on Plastic Clamshell Containers.

The good news is I think I’ve found a place here in Pittsburgh called Michael Brothers that recycles #1 through #7 plastics, which is what clamshells and other plastics are. Here’s a link to them if you’re interested: Michael Brothers Hauling and Recycling. But no matter where you live, just look up plastic recycling and you’ll probably find one in your area too.

Even though it’s way easier to buy lettuce or spinach that’s triple washed and ready to eat, in plastic clamshells, I’m going to start forcing myself to buy lettuce I have to rinse and spin because very few places take plastics like these. But on a happier note, I was very excited to see that my local Home Depot now recycles batteries, lightbulbs and plastic bags, so that is progress!

It’s all very confusing because years ago we were led to believe that all the plastic we were consuming was going to be recycled and clearly, that never happened. So, now you have to check with your local garbage collection company and see if they recycle and if so, what they accept.

I’ve been wish-cycling for years. (That’s when you put stuff in the recycling, hoping they take it.) I always wish-cycled the caps from bottles, but learned they don’t take those…bummer. Maybe one of you artists out there can think of some cool art installation we could create with them.

In the meantime, let’s work together to stop plastic pollution. Please, please, please, use real plates, or at least paper ones for your next party. Use metal cutlery and just wash it after a party. (It takes a plastic fork 1,000 years to decompose and who knows what harmful chemicals they leave behind?) Invite me and I’ll do the washing. And drink water out of glasses or portable containers instead of buying 24 packs of bottled water. We can make a difference if we’re all are in this together. We only get one planet, let’s try to save it.

Since you got this far without anything delicious, I’m reposting my much-loved recipe for Cinnamon Sugar Topped Zucchini Bread because it’s Zucchini Season! If you enjoy this blog, stories and the recipes and would like to be a supporter so I can stay caffeinated enough to turn out a blog on a regular basis, just click on buymeacoffee.com/FranTunno

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Thank You and please enjoy what’s left of summer!

Cinnamon Sugar Topped Zucchini Bread

AuthorFran Tunno

Yields20 Servings

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

2 tsp vanilla

¾ cup canola or any vegetable oil

3 cups grated zucchini (drained- see instruction)

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

1 ½ tsp cinnamon

1 cup drained crushed pineapple (In pineapple juice)

Additional 1-2 tablespoons butter for the top of the bread when it's done

Cinnamon Sugar

2 tbsp sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

Heat the oven to 350. Flour and grease two bread pans sized 5 x 9 or 4.5 x 8.5. There may be additional mixture leftover, so also flour and grease a small loaf pan or (2 to 4) small ceramic ramekins.

Shred the zucchini (I don't peel mine but you can if you want). Set the zucchini aside and let it drain in a colander.

Drain the crushed pineapple and squeeze or press it so most of the liquid is out. Set it aside.

Beat together eggs, sugar, vanilla and oil in a large bowl. Set it aside.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

Give the zucchini a squeeze and roll it into a paper towel squeezing to get excess moisture out. (Don't worry if it's still a bit moist, the bread will turn out fine.)

Add the shredded zucchini and the drained pineapple to the into the egg, sugar, vanilla and oil mixture. Mix it thoroughly then add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon Mix very thoroughly again scraping from the bottom.

Pour the mixture into the greased, floured pans filling them about two thirds full. Fill the small cake pan or ramekins about two thirds full also.

Bake at 350 and begin checking the smaller containers after 20 minutes. When the tops are lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, the bread is done. The larger bread pans can take up to an hour or longer to bake.

While the bread is baking combine the 2 tablespoons of sugar with one teaspoon of cinnamon and mix thoroughly. If you have an empty spice container with holes on top for shaking, fill it with the cinnamon sugar. (Set it aside)

Once the bread is baked, remove it from the oven and while it's still hot, rub the top with a stick of butter (regular, not unsalted). Once the top is buttered thoroughly, sprinkle it with the cinnamon sugar. (If you don't have a spice container to sprinkle it with, just lightly sprinkle it from a teaspoon)

Being careful not to get burned, run a knife or plastic blade along the sides of the bread to make sure it releases from the pan.

Once the bread is cool enough to handle, place two pieces of foil or plastic wrap on the counter lengthwise and widthwise (creating a cross) large enough to wrap around the entire loaf. Turn the loaf pan over onto the foil or plastic wrap and the bread should fall out. If bits of it stick to the bottom of the pan, just scrape it out and piece it together. Then flip the bread over and wrap it with the foil or plastic wrap and let it cool all the way. (It stays moist with the wrap on.) It tastes great warm or cool. Enjoy!

Ingredients