ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD, 2016
45 DAYS UNTIL SPRING
Sunrise: 7:39 am
Sunset: 5:47 pm
Life is a Special Occasion!
Hallmark
Today is Carrot Cake Day. Celebrated annually on February 3rd, the holiday celebrates this cake made with carrots. Carrot cake is considered a tad bit healthier than your average sugary cake. Carrots are full of fiber and packed with health-promoting beta carotene, that promote good vision, especially night vision, and help combat health damaging free radical activity. It is usually made with less sugar, healthy oils and sometimes has healthy nuts in it.
If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread and pumpkin pie.
Jim Davis
As I have a box of Carrot Cake Mix sitting on the shelf in the panty, I thought I’d look for a way to jazz it up a bit. You can toast chopped nuts for about 8 minutes in a 350 degree oven to give your carrot cake nutty flavor and crunch. Almonds, sliced or chopped, pecans, pistachios, or walnuts all complement the sweetness of carrots
A can of crushed or diced pineapple or raisins bring a different level of sweetness and tang to the cake, while tangy, chopped cranberries offset the cake's sweetness. Or, add about 1 teaspoon of orange zest and substitute fresh orange juice for the water called for to give the carrot cake depths of orange flavor.
The Ultimate Carrot Cake
1 box carrot cake mix
1/2 cup orange juice or water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 can, 8 oz, crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
1 teaspoon orange peel
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 eggs
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup chopped raisins
Frosting
1 stick margarine
12 ounces cream cheese
5 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans or a 13 by 9 inch pan and lightly flour. In large bowl, beat cake mix, orange juice, oil, pineapple, orange peel, vanilla and eggs on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Stir in nuts, coconut and raisins. Pour into pans.
Bake about 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around side of pans to loosen cakes; remove rounds from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
Stir orange peel into frosting. Place 1 cake layer, rounded side down, on serving plate. Spread with about 1/3 cup frosting. Place other layer, rounded side up, on top. Frost side and top of cake with remaining frosting or frost top of 13 by 9 inch cake. Store in refrigerator.
I love carrot cake but have found that children rarely do, they don’t enjoy a carrot cake packed full of the optional ingredients like pineapple, raisins, so I also did a search to find a kid friendly carrot cake and this is what I found… kids do love chocolate chips so this definitely one ingredient to add and leave out the nuts coconut and raisins. Another good idea is to top with Chocolate Sauce instead of Cream Cheese frosting.
Chocolate Sauce
5 teaspoons of cocoa powder
5 teaspoons of sugar
½ cup of whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons butter, softened
cinnamon
In a saucepan, combine all the ingredients and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly. When it starts to boil, lower the heat low and simmer until sauce had thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla extract, and let sauce cool down to warm. Pour over cake.
I haven’t tried either of these recipes yet, but both sound like they’re worth a try.
I hope you all have a WONDERFUL Wednesday !
COUNTING MY GIFTS
Like a ten ton cake, the world is more than anyone can eat at one sitting. Select a piece of it, then enjoy the party.
Samuel M Silver
Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for. There is truly is always something to be thankful for.
3556. for carrots, good and good for you
3557. for chocolate, a welcome addition to cake recipes
3558. for cake, a must for any party
Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!
PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS
Please pray for God's protection of
our troops and HIS wisdom for their
commanders.
Almighty and eternal God,
Protect our military
as they discharge their duties
with the shield of your strength,
may the power of your love
enable them to return home in safety
that with all who love them
they may ever praise you for your loving care.
AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters
and Paramedics and EMT’s
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
GOD BLESS YOU ALL !
ADVICE FOR TODAY
A party without cake is just a meeting.
Julia Child
A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…
Love,
ma
1 comment:
Hubby likes carrot cake; I like a bite of it now and then; I might just have to make him one for his birthday this year :)
betty
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