Wednesday 10 February 2010

Classic Carrot Cake / My blog turns 1

YES!!!I am soo soo excited to say that my blog has turned 1 year old today... it all started when I started taking food photos of the new recipes I tried to show it to my mom, who lives far away from me. And then, one fine day my husband suggested that I should start a blog, to store all the food snaps with the recipes, which would make it easier for me to refer in future and thus my blog 'Faiza Ali's Kitchen' was born.Firstly I want to thank my husband for introducing me to this blogging world and helping me through it. And my sincere thanks my Mom and Mom-In-Law from whom, I have learned most of my cooking. And Also I would like to thank Lubna baaji of Yummy Food for taking out her precious time for helping me to create a menu bar for my blog..Thanks a lot dear.
Through blogging I made so many friends from around the globe, who visit my blog regularly and encourage me with their kind and lovely comments. I had never imagined in my wildest dreams that in 1 year I will have 135 readers/ followers. I am really thankful to all my fellow bloggers and friends who encourage me, it is the love and kindness you all shower on my blog that keeps it going. Thank you friends :-)
Now coming to today's recipe, I baked this classic carrot cake, which I learned from the book ''cakes and cake decorating ''. Last month my fellow blogger and friend Shabs of Shab's Cuisine had mailed to inform me that there is a huge sale on recipe books at WHSmith. I went to the store the very next day to grab some recipe books. And among the books, that I bought was this book''Cakes and cake decorating'' by Angela Nilson, Sarah Maxwell and Janice Murfitt. I never get tied of looking at those lovely cakes in my book everyday :D it has 200 recipes for beautiful cakes and the best part is the price I bought the book for. The original price of this book is £14.99 and I payed only £ 3.50 for this brand new book which was on a sale(smiles).
There are so many beautiful cakes to bake in this book, but I decided to start with a simple carrot cake and I decorated it with cute lil carrots made using the marzipan.And Yes, this is the first time, I was trying my hands on marzipan. And Voila !!1 here are the results. So, without further ado here is the recipe for the carrot cake.
CLASSIC CARROT CAKE

Ingredients:
225 grams / 1 cup of caster sugar,
20 ml /1 scant cup of vegetable oil,
225 grams / 2 cups of self-rising wholemeal flour,
1 tsp ground cinnamon,
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg,1 cup ground walnuts,
grated zest and juice of 1 orange,
3-4 finely grated carrot- squeezed dry,
4 eggs and
1/2 tsp of salt

For the Frosting:
225 grams / 1 cup of cream cheese,
30 ml /2 tbsp of clear honey,1 tbsp of orange juice,
50 grams of marzipan,
orange food colouring,
angel hair spaghetti and
green food colouring.
Method:
Pre-heat the oven to 180 Celsius / 350 Fahrenheit. Grease a 8 inch round cake tin, line the base with greaseproof paper and grease the paper. Beat the sugar, eggs, oil, orange zest and orange juice together until light and frothy. Sift the dry ingredients- flour, salt and spices in another bowl and add to the frothy egg mixture and beat for a further minute. Stir in the carrots and the groud walnuts and spon the mixture into the prepared tin. bake for 50-60 minutes or until risen and a toothpick or a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Meanwhile make the icing. to make the icing, beat the cheese, honey and 1 tbsp of orange juice together until smooth. Chill for 30 minutes to firm up.Break the angel hair spaghetti into 2 1 inch pieces and soak in green food colouring for 5-10 minutes. dry them on a paper towel until ready to use.Tint the marzipan with orange food colouring to resemble the colour of carrots. Break small pieces and roll between your palms to form small carrot shapes.using a small knife, press marks around the sides and stick 2 small pieces if the spaghetti in the top of each one to resemble the stalks.
Spread the icing over the top of the cooled cake. Arrange the carrots around the cake or in a bunch, in the centre of the cake.


Note:This cake can be served with a simple dusting of icing sugar on the top if one doesn't like like cream cheese icing. Also the recipe asked for Angelica as stalk for the carrot, which i could find here, So, i used the spaghetti as stalk.

63 comments:

Angie's Recipes said...

The carrot cake is perfectly baked! Happy Anniversary!

SE said...

hey Congratulations !!Faiza...keep rocking !!

shahana said...

Happy Birthday !!!
U r cake looks awesome!!!

FH said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Carrot cake, i=one cake I would pay to eat! :D

Looks beautiful, lovely for V day.

Happy happy first and looking for ward to more years.

3 hungry tummies said...

Congratulations ! Great looking cake too!

Rachana said...

Congratulations dear Faiza! Nothing better than a delicious Cake to celebrate this lovely occasion:)

Treat and Trick said...

Congrats for your blog, this carrot cake turns out great with beautiful decor.

http://treatntrick.blogspot.com

Shanthi Krishnakumar said...

Happy blog anniversary

Vrinda said...

Happy Blogoversay Faiza...This is one of my fav cake,looks yumm and nicely presented ....

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Happy blog anniversary ..the cake looks absolutely tempting.... and nice marzipan carrots , loved the way u used spaghetti in it.

Sailaja Damodaran said...

Happy birthday & lovely decoration.

tasteofbeirut said...

Faiza
What a professional looking cake! I love that you took the time to make these cute marzipan carrots!

BeenaShylesh said...

Happy blog anniversary...and lovely cake dear..

Indian food recipes said...

Happy blog anniversary Faiza

Priya Suresh said...

Happy blog anniversary Faiza, gorgeous cake dear, love those marzipan carrots, cake looks really professional dear..

Tina said...

Congrats dear...Carrot cake looks fabulous and perfect...

PJ said...

oh wow, love the carrot cake and congrats on your first anniversary; looking fwd to many more.

Dolly Sharma said...

CONGRATULATIONs Faiza..on ur 1st blog Anniversary. A great way to celebrate with your yummylicious and gorgeous carrot cake. I love ur Marzipan carrots..and even I'm tempted to give it a try. Looking forward to many more yummy recipes..Happy Blogging.

FoodLovers said...

Congratulations Faiza on turning 1 dear ...
cake looks awesome

Padma said...

Congrats on your blog anniversary Faiza. Cake looks very tempting.

Naarya said...

nice cake! and cngrts on your blog turning 1 !! :)

Valarmathi Sanjeev said...

Congratulations Faiza. Love those marzipan carrots. Cake looks fantastic and yummy.

Karen said...

Happy Blog Birthday!!! Best wishes for the coming year!

Unknown said...

Congrats and Happy Blog Anniversary...I have heard a lot about Carrot cake,though never tried,now I have the perfect recipe to try..Looks yummy..Thanks for the recipe....

Yasmeen said...

Congrats Faiza! What a gorgeous cake and the marzipan carrots look so cute :D

Ushnish Ghosh said...

Dear Faiza
How are you?
I am back on blog reading after a long time...this is a great recipe...I was puzzled to see red chilis on the cake until I saw the close ups.
will eat virtually for the time being no kitchen with me in milano
Have a nice time

Ash said...

Lovely cutie cutie carrots..... & MUBARAK Ho..... aapke blog ke saalgire pe..... I would be celebrating mine by the end of this month..... Looking forward to..... I know how happy u r.... KUDOS & WISHES..... for many more such milestones..... HAPPYLICIOUS CAKE!!!!

Ash...
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

Ramya Vijaykumar said...

Congrats Faiza and the cake looks so beautiful and yummy!!! Wishes to attain and achieve more dear!!!

http://memoryarchieved.blogspot.com

Gita Jaishankar said...

Happy Birthday to your blog dear :) Carrot cake looks so cute...lovely icing and perfect!

Perspectivemedley said...

Heey Fazia!!!... Congratualtions on the achievement!!! :):):)... you are a great blogger!!! and lovely cake.. nice carrots:):)!!... perfect one!

Shabs.. said...

Happy Birthday Bloggie!!!Hey faiza, that cake looks exactly like the one in the book!!!Girrrl u did it....those marzipans look professional...I am also like u, addicted to that book...m planning to buy one more of that book for my sis!dono if that sale is still on:)....I just moved to a new place, was thinking of calling u once i get the phone connection..:). I bet all our talk will be of food....lol...

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday!!! The little carrots are so cute! Cake looks fab!

Saraswathy Balakrishnan said...

Very yummy carrot cake:)

Siddhi Shirsat said...

hey faiza happy bday 2 ur blog...this carrot cake is very invitng...very nice recipe and the carrots luk very very cute

Fathima said...

Congrats Dear! Carrot Cake looks perfect!

Unknown said...

love the way you have made carrots..they look so real..and carrot cake is alwaya my favourite..love it!!

Sushma Mallya said...

Hi faiza,happy 1st blog anniversary,wish u celebrate many more successfully..and wish to c many more yummy recipe,keep rocking, and cake is just so beautiful,love carrot cake..must try ur version as well...looks delicious and lovely...

Nammi said...

yumm love carrot cakes, I love those little carrots on top :), and Congrats on turning 1 !!

priya said...

what a delicious cake to celebrate..congratulations dear!

Renuka Bedre - Rao said...

Many Congratulations to u! Happy Birthday!! ur blog is so wonderful! May u get more n more success..this cake looks so tempting..perfect!!

Sarah Naveen said...

Happy Anniversary!!!!
Carrot cake looks simply cute and delicious..

Deepti said...

congrats dear on completing 1 yr...wish u gud luck n success in future.

Vineetha Sush said...

Happy birthday to your blog...
Your cak is decorated perfectly and looks so yummy too..I mised the sale in Whsmith..:(

AdukalaVishesham said...

congratulation on completing one year.. and we wish you tons and tons of success in future too....

Aparna said...

Happy birthday bloggiee..the cake s fabulous:)

Parita said...

Happy Anniversary dear! Wish many such milestones ahead! Carrot cake has come out perfect!

Hayley said...

Happy B'day to your blog!!carrot cake just looks awesome and yummy.;))keep it up..

Duchess of Tea said...

Darling Happy Birthday to your blog and Happy Valentine's Day to you. Wishing you a love filled Valentine’s Day, full of laughter, good food and great company.

Love & Hugs
Duchess

Zayida Muhammed said...

HappY b'day to faiza's blog..:)


this template of urs takes too much time to load:(...nammal malayalikalku undaakkan pattiya nammude naadan food undo ee blogil??badly want!

Kanchan said...

Congrats for completing One year !! and WOW this doesn't look the first time ; Perfect Cake !

Lebouffe said...

Yummy yummy! Happy b'day to yr blog!

Arlette said...

Congratulation on your anniversary, with many years of cooking and yummy blogging.

Gorgeous looking cake, I will not mind a piece ...Cheers my friend

Sunitha said...

Fantastic cake.. way to go! Congratulations on your 1 st blog anniversary :)

Lebouffe said...

Got some awards for you on our blog.. Do collect them!! Cheers!
http://le-bouffe.blogspot.com/2010/02/more-awards.html

lubnakarim06 said...

Iam i late for the celebration and cake...better late than never....Congrats Faiza....keep rocking...wish u r blog many more yum years to come....cake looks extremely scrumptious.....love those carrots....they look gorgeous....thank u for remembering me....

Neetz said...

wowo faiza this is awesome cake :)....i m following u now :)....

chef and her kitchen said...

Happy Blog Anniversary dear.....
Very cute carrots,I just loved them...

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Hi
You have an award awaiting in my blog. Pls accpect it.

Dori said...

Happy Blog Birthday! I love carrot cake!

Anjum said...

Happy anniversary and yummy cakes.Do drop by at http://anjuskitchentreasures.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Hi faiza...hope u r doing good :) I missed many of your posts, you have posted a lot of great recipes will try to catch up soon.
congrats on your first blog b'day, may u achieve many more is my prayer.
carrot cake looks awesome!!

Lena Jayadev said...

congrads Faiza.. :) cake looks awesome..those carrots looks superb. :)

Jennifer said...

happy blog birthday! i love your blog, it's awesome! i cannot wait until you come back from india with pictures of the foods and life there. (i hope you post them here!) =D

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