Zucchini-Oatmeal Bread

1-1/2 cups sugar 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 2-1/2 cups flour 1 cup oatmeal (uncooked) 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 3 eggs 1 cup applesauce 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups shredded zucchini (unpeeled) 1 cup chopped walnuts 3/4 cup raisins (plumped)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a 9x5x3 loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside. Combine 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 tablespoon sugar and set aside. Combine dry ingredients (except sugar and nuts) and set aside. Break eggs into a large mixing bowl and beat with electric mixer until foamy. Add remaining sugar, applesauce, vegetable oil and vanilla; blend well. Add flour mixture gradually; mix briefly on low speed to combine after each addition. Stir in zucchini, walnuts, and raisins by hand. Spoon into prepared pan and sprinkle reserved cinnamon/sugar mixture over top. Bake about 80 minutes or until loaf tests done. Cool in pan on wire rack for ten minutes; remove from pan to finish cooling. 

Notes:
See the sidebar for directions on plumping the raisins.