Carrot Cake and a Three Minute Surprise

      I don't know why I love baking so much and I do not consider myself a baker but still....I bake. Most of what I bake is for other people and regardless of the occasion, I experiment each and every time. One thing I have learned is that if a Dump Cake can be delicious then almost any reasonable combination can work. It is so exciting to see how it turns out and and even better to see my friends and family enjoying. One caution is that using a cake mix and then adding and modifying is the ticket. I do not modify the “made from scratch” ones.

      This “made from scratch” Carrot Cake recipe calls for fresh grated carrots and believe me, they are worth the effort. The first time I made this cake I grated by hand and the very next day I was in line at Target buying my new food processor. Love it!!

      Since this cake is a major culinary effort, I thought I would also include something that is a real treat and an easy and quick one - The Three Minute Chocolate Cupped Cake. Let me know how you enjoy them!

Don V's Carrot Cake

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 ½ cups salad oil

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

3-4 cups finely grated carrots (about 6 carrots)

1 ½ cups flaked coconut

½ -1 cup chopped walnuts

Beat eggs, add sugar, blend in oil.

Sift dry ingredients together and blend with egg mixture.

Add carrots, coconut, and walnuts.

Bake 45 minutes @ 350 degrees in a 10x15x2 greased glass pan.

While still warm frost with:

4 oz Philly Cream Cheese

2 ½ cups powdered sugar

1/8-1/4 cup cream or milk

1 tsp vanilla

Mix room temp cheese with a bit of milk and stir to get creamy, then add sugar and cream. Slowly add remainder of cream or milk to get the desired consistency. Stir in the vanilla.

Note: make thicker than usual as the frosting

thins out on a warm cake.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!

The Three Minute Chocolate Cupped Cake

Flour 4 TB

Sugar 4 TB

Cocoa Powder 2 TB

Eggs one

Milk 3 TB

Oil 3 TB

Vanilla 1/4 tsp

Chocolate Chips 4TB (or white chocolate)

One large coffee cup or mug (must be okay in microwave )

Mix dry ingredients and put into mug. Mix wet ingredients then pour into mug and mix well. Add chocolate chips, mix then cook for 3-5 minutes in Microwave.

The cake may rise over the top of the mug and that is just fine. You must allow this to cool a bit then unmold onto a plate or eat right out of the mug.

Careful - it is HOT! Enjoy!!