Carrot Cake

In my family birthdays = carrot cake.
So naturally, for my son's first birthday I made carrot cake - Brazilian Style! Yes, it's orange, and yes it has a chocolate glaze... hummm SO GOOD!


Carrot Cake

1/2 c. oil
3 medium carrots shredded
4 eggs
2 c. sugar
3 c. flour
1 tbs baking powder

Put all wet ingredients and carrots in a blender and blend until carrots are chopped and shredded finely,and batter takes on an orange-ish tint.

Mix wet ingredients unto dry until everything if combined. It will look a little thick for a cake batter, but it's supposed to be like that. :o)

Bake on a greased/floured pan for 40 min at a preheated over (375F).

Glaze:
(you may think it's weird, but trust me, it's sooooo good!)

1 tbs butter
3 tbs chocolate nesquick (or something like it)
1 c. sugar

in a small sauce pan, melt butter and add remaining ingridients. Cook until everything is melted (about 5 min.). Pour over cake. (I recomment poking a few holes with a knife on the cake before pouring the glaze!).

Give it a try and let me know, I'm sure you will all love it!

Orange/Cinnamon Rolls

To celebrate mother's day one of my mom's classics! These are the best cinnamon/orange rolls I've ever had, and my mom used to make these, the orange version, all the time when I was little. I remember so many times going to the playground with one in my hand!

You're going to need a lot of flour for this - so be ready!













And if you have a Kitchen Aid (or equivalent), this is the perfect time to make good use of it. For the dough use the hook like beater, and the icing the funky middle one (not the wisk the psychedelic peace sign one).





Ingredients:
1 c. water
1 c. butter
3/4 c. sugar
2 tsp salt

1 c. cold water
4 eggs slightly beaten
2 pkgs (24oz) quick yeast
7 1/2 cups flour


In a large pan add the 1 c. of water, butter, salt and sugar and bring to boil. In a bowl mix the eggs with the yeast. Add the warm mixture to the eggs and yeast. Add the cold water.
Then slowly add the flour.


Let dough rise for 1 hr, or until doubled in size.
Divide the dough into three equal parts. On a floured surface open each part into a rectangle (my mom opens it 3 times, I am lazy and only do it once).


For the filling:
For orange rolls: 1/2 c. butter, 1 c. granulated sugar, 3 tbs orange zest. For cinnamon rolls: 1/2 c. butter, 1c. brown sugar, 1/4 c. cinnamon.

Spread the butter on the dough then sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon/orange zest.
Roll it up and to cut here is the secret: floss or thread ! Slide the thread under the log, and pull it towards each other to cut each section (about 1 1/2 in). Like so:
Place them on a greased pan, and let them rise again for another hour. This will make a big difference! They will be a lot softer, chewier and bigger! With a preheated oven, bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes.

Now for the icing: 1/2 c. butter-softened, 2 c. powdered sugar, 2 tbs sugar and 2 tbs vanilla (for cinnamon rolls) or 2 tbs orange juice (for orange rolls). I like to let it beat for about 2 minutes, make the icing extra smooth and yummy!


Spread the icing on the rolls while they are still warm, and eat it up! Whether you make orange or cinnamon, they are scrumptious and everyone will love them... and you for making them.

Try them out and let me know how they turn out!