Carrot Cake - easy, moist and delicious

Many people will remember this time in history when we reverted back to home cooked meals, snacks and comfort foods. This is the positive side of  "Staying at home" and social isolation that has resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic..

There seems to be a flood of baked breads on social media, and families are re-uniting once again around the kitchen table. We must enjoy every bit of the quality time this period is giving us with our loved ones. No running kids to school or after-school activities. No rush to get everyone out of the house for work, school or shopping.

Even if alone we can video chat with other family members or friends and catch up on conversations with people we have lost touch with because of our busy schedules.

Everything I have done since the lock-down has brought me a small measure of satisfaction. I do miss the physical closeness of my children and my first and only grandchild to date.  I personally have found peace and a new pace of life since the lock-down.

Many kind people have been sharing their cooking adventures with others.  A gift of a home-cooked meal or baked items left at the door step bring joy to what could otherwise be an isolating experience, and help us remember that at the core of all mankind is a kindness and love that surpasses all material wealth..

This carrot cake is so easy to prepare and is moist and delicious. I made 2 loaves which I halved.  I kept one half at home because since the lock-down my husband and myself have been enjoying evening tea which we had foregone because of our busy schedules up to now.  The other 3 halves were wrapped and dropped off to some very special loved ones.

Here is wishing everyone  special moments and creativity in the kitchen, and wherever possible do share the love!!

I will leave you with a joke since one of my eggs went on an adventure and rolled off the counter.  It did not end well!

Question " What do you call an adventurous egg?"
Answer " An eggs- plorer! "

Ingredients

( Dry Ingredients)

3  cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons Baking Soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 cups sugar

 ( Liquids)

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil ( I used olive oil)
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


(Other)
3 cups grated carrots
1 cup roughly chopped walnuts ( do not grind or mince)

Method

Grate the carrots. I used a food processor.  Measure out 3 cups of grated carrots and keep in a bowl.

Preheat the oven to 350F

Line your loaf pans with parchment paper and grease lightly.  I used a kitchen spray to grease the bottom and sides of the loaf pan

Put all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Use a whisk to stir the dry ingredients till they are all well blended.

Put all the liquid ingredients and the eggs into a separate container and mix well using a whisk or a fork till the eggs are well blended, and the other liquids are also mixed in well.

Now add the blended liquids to the dry mixture and mix well with a spatula till the liquids are mixed into the flour mixture. Do not over mix.

Now add the carrots and the nuts and fold into the mixture with a spatula or a wooden spoon. . Your batter will look like the picture below.

Pour the batter equally into 2 loaf pans.  Put into the preheated oven and bake for about 35 -45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  I used a convection oven and the loaves were ready in 35 minutes.