Food & Entertaining
The Best Carrot Cake Ever
There is carrot cake and then there is Irene’s Carrot Cake. If you haven’t had Irene’s, you are missing out. My mom’s carrot cake is over the top delicious.
There is carrot cake and then there is Irene’s Carrot Cake. If you haven’t had Irene’s, you are missing out. My mom’s carrot cake is over-the-top delicious. It’s the most requested birthday cake for almost every member of our family.
At the top of that list is my husband and my brother-in-law. Sometimes a waiter in a restaurant will convince them to order their carrot cake. They claim it’s the best and that they are known for it. After the first bite, without fail, the first word’s out of their mouth is that it doesn’t even compare to my moms. They are her biggest fans.
Why is it so good? It’s moist and full of flavor and it has the creamiest cream cheese frosting that will have you scraping your dish for every last bit.
It is baked in a sheet pan so it’s only one layer. So much easier than a multi-level cake.
Enough said! Here’s the recipe that we all love.
Irene’s Carrot Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- ¾ cup buttermilk*
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups grated carrots (about 3 large carrots)
- 1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained
- 1¼ cups sweetened coconut flakes
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 5 cups confectioner’s sugar
- TOPPING
- ½ cup walnuts, finely chopped
- 4 tablespoons light brown sugar, firmly packed
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9″x13″ pan.
- Stir together first four ingredients (flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt).
- Beat eggs and next four ingredients (eggs, sugar, oil and buttermilk) at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add flour mixture, beating at low speed until blended.
- Fold in carrots and next three ingredients. Pour batter into greased and floured 9″x13″ inch pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cover loosely with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning and bake 13 more minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Transfer pan to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes. Turn cake out onto rack to cool completely.
- TO PREPARE FROSTING: Beat together butter and cream cheese at medium speed until completely smooth. Beat in vanilla and then confectioner’s sugar until well blended.
- TO PREPARE TOPPING: Mix together nuts and brown sugar.
- Place cake on serving plate. Spread frosting over top and sides. Sprinkle with nut mixture. Makes 12 servings.
- *To make buttermilk, combine a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice and add to the milk. Stir well. Let stand five minutes before you use it. It has just about the same taste and effect as buttermilk.
If you are a coffee lover, have a cup ready to enjoy with this delicious cake.
Refrigerate any leftovers. Bring to room temperature before serving for that soft buttercream taste.
Trust me, it will be love at first bite!
Let me know if you make this.
Food & Entertaining
Beautiful and Creative Number Cakes
OMG, I’m in love with these gorgeous number cakes. They are a wonderful alternative to the traditional birthday cake. Today I am sharing both beautifully decorated number cakes as well as tips on how to make them.
OMG, I’m in love with these gorgeous number cakes. They are a wonderful alternative to the traditional birthday cake. Today I am sharing both beautifully decorated number cakes as well as tips on how to make them.
Gorgeous Number Cakes
These two cakes are just a couple of Adi Klinghofe’s creations. They are a work of art and so creative! Be sure to follow her Instagram account for more inspiration.
Use Cupcakes to Form Your Number Cake
Another creative account to follow on Instagram is Sophia Mya Cupcakes. I love her inspiration for using cupcakes to form the number.
Number Cake Using a Mold
Lekue silicone cake molds are available in numbers 0-9. You can create your own number combination for a special birthday party celebration. An easy yet elegant way to decorate a cake is with a variety of berries. I love the look of leaving the leaves on the strawberries.
Other Ways to Make a Number Cake
This infographic from Today’s Parent shows how you can make any number using an 8-inch round and 8-inch square cake pan.
I found this picture floating around Pinterest, however the link attached to the photo was not a working site. I wanted to share it because I feel it helps to see how they put the actual cake together to form the number.
Use Cupcakes to Form Number Cakes
As you saw above, you can form cupcakes into the shape of your desired number. It makes it easy to serve as no cutting is required. The number 2 cake above is festive with the floral pattern on both the cake and the serving board.
In need of a large serving board? You can use a large piece of cardboard or corrugated poster board and cover with foil.
The patterns below will help you decide how many cupcakes you will need to create the desired number. Depending on the size you want, you can use either regular sized cupcakes or mini cupcakes.
Which cake was your favorite?
Party Decorations
Need decorations for a milestone birthday party? Read my post Festive Party Decorations for a Milestone Birthday for some great tips.
Food & Entertaining
6 Festive Heart-Shaped Cookies for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovers. It’s a wonderful time of year to pass out treats to friends and family. Following are seven great heart-shaped cookies to give you some inspiration. I love the idea of putting just a few in a cellophane bag with a pretty ribbon to pass out gifts.
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovers. It’s a wonderful time of year to pass out treats to friends and family. Following are seven great heart-shaped cookies to give you some inspiration. I love the idea of putting just a few in a cellophane bag with a pretty ribbon to pass out as gifts.
Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles
Mallory from Chocolate with Grace says these Sour Cream Cut Out Cookies are super soft, decorated with a fluffy buttercream frosting. They look delicious!
No time to bake? If you live near Orange Grove, Texas, you can order these beautiful cookies from Blue Sugar Cookie Co.
Heart Shaped Gingham Cookies
Elizabeth from Sugar Hero came up with this clever way to create Gingham decorated Valentine cookies. She also has some fabulous ombre colored heart-shaped cookies. Head on over to her blog to see them.
Valentine Cookies with a Message
I love these cookies with a message, reminiscent of the Valentine candies we had as children.
Heart-Shaped Peanut Butter Valentine Cookies
If your loved one craves peanut butter cookies, these heart-shaped ones from The Semisweet Sisters are easy to make and no decorating required. Holly and Katie have a step-by-step tutorial on how to make these.
Festive Heart-Shaped Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispie treats are delicious regardless of your age! These heart-shaped treats from Click Cut Create look great in cellophane bags that you can find at Michaels.
Visit these other posts for more Valentine inspiration including more cookies, desserts and ideas for a Valentine Party. Have fun creating!
Creative Valentine Sugar Cookies
Sweet Treats for Valentine’s Day Gifts
Valentine’s Day Menu Suggestions
Elegant Valentine’s Day Party Decorations
Host a Valentine Party & Skip the Hectic Restaurant Scene
Food & Entertaining
Hearty Sausage & Lentil Soup
I made the most delicious Sausage and Lentil Soup. There is something about making soup that gives me a creative license to experiment. Since it was cold and snowing, I didn’t want to venture out to the grocery store so it was more of a day to raid my fridge and pantry.
I made the most delicious Sausage and Lentil Soup. There is something about making soup that gives me a creative license to experiment. Since it was cold and snowing, I didn’t want to venture out to the grocery store so it was more of a day to raid my fridge and pantry.
Pantry Staples for Soup
I always have chicken broth or stock on hand; either homemade in the freezer or store bought in my pantry. I’m rarely without the famous trio of onions, celery and carrots. Lentils and rice are also pantry staples.
I just so happened to have some Johnson Andouille Sausage that I picked up last week so I decided to make a spicy sausage and lentil soup. It was time to get creative and I loved the results.
One of my favorite things about broth based soups is that they freeze well. We will enjoy a bowl of soup for dinner tonight and I will freeze the rest in individual portions. It will make a great lunch on a cold winter day.
- light olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 stalks celery, sliced
- 1 large carrot, grated
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup lentils
- ½ cup white rice, rinsed
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 lb. Johnsonville Andouille Smoked Sausage, sliced
- Sauté onions and celery in olive oil until soft. Add grated carrots and garlic and sauté for two minutes. Add spices and sauté for one minute.
- Add rice, lentils and broth. Bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
- Add sausage and continue to cook until lentils and rice are done, approximately 20 more minutes.
- Taste and adjust salt, pepper and crushed red pepper to taste. You may also need to add some broth or water. Remove bay leaves.
- Serve with warm crusty bread.
Other Soup Recipes Perfect for Winter
Following are some links to my other soup recipes. Enjoy!
Mom’s Healing Chicken Soup Recipe
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