Those of you who know me or who read the blog a lot know how much I love good food. Ummmmmm. Love it. Since I’m on vacation this week, I thought it appropriate to go off topic a little and share one of my favorite recipes that includes fresh, local food (and enough sugar and oil to balance out any health benefits, oh well). I make it for company and for friends who need a lift. Sometimes I make it and put it in the freezer, because it freezes well, but I never just make it for me and Jim, because then we eat it all up in a few hours and look around, stuffed and embarrassed, wondering how our tummies got so full. Here it is:
Best Carrot Bread Ever
3 c. flour (I use unbleached) 3 eggs, beaten
2 c white sugar 1 c canola oil
2 – 3 TB cinnamon 1 1/2 c grated carrots
1/2 tsp ginger 1 c. applesauce (I use apple butter that I make from wild apples, but reg is good too)
1/2 tsp nutmeg 2 TB vanilla
1/2 tsp cloves
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
The original recipe calls for nuts, but I say nuts to them. The apple butter I make from wild apples with lots of cinnamon and nutmeg in it, so be extra liberal with the spices if you like it spicy if you use regular applesauce.
Mix all dry together, mix all wet together. Add dry to wet, put in greased, floured pan, bake one hour or toothpick comes out dry, at 325.
Makes 2 loaves (rises a lot in the oven, don’t fill pan up more than 2/3 full)
And here’s some summer scenes from the farm–so classsic mid-midwestern summer!
One of my favorite native flowers, Liatris spicata or Blazing Star:
Frances says
What an excellent way of celebrating being on holiday – looks scrumptious! (Scrummy is one of the words my dogs know, along with breakfast, supper, delicious, chicken … does this give an indication of how their minds work, I wonder?!)
Joan says
The CC recipe looks yummy–can’t wait to try it! But before I do,does it truly call for 2 tablespoons vanilla? That would make it pretty vanilla-y, right?
Roberta Beach says
I have the exact same kiddy pool. One of my hounds likes to lie in it up to her hips and shoulders. Another does “cannon balls” as best he can. Happy 4th!
R.L. says
We use two of that same pool at the shelter I volunteer at.
I wonder if that recipe would be good with gluten free flour? I made Sex In A Pan with an all purpose gluten free and the crust turned out great. The almond milk as a substitute for cow milk didn’t fare as well but everyone loved it anyway. I’ll have the last bit later, maybe when the dogs calm down from the fireworks.
kate says
Carrot cake…what a treat and healthy to boot 😛
I have a similar recipe only instead of apple sauce, you add crushed pineapple. One can never have too many variations of a good thing!
Thank you for sharing & Happy 4 of July!
Melanie S says
Well then, from now on there’ll be no trouble identifying any of your blog readers at conferences, seminars etc. We’ll be the ones looking around for other carrot bread pot-bellied folk who appear “stuffed and embarassed”, and we’ll be the ones telling the tales along the lines of “Oh yes, that Patricia McConnell is great, I get along with my dog so much better after reading her books and her blog, but it came at a price, I’ve gained 5kg since following her advice.”
Smiles…
Em says
Ok, this looked so good that I made it today, since I happily had all ingredients at hand. Unfortunately I did NOT take your advise about making it for company/friends, and now my husband and I have eaten too much of it and are also “stuffed and embarrassed”… Still, thanks for a great recipe (confess the dogs all had a wee taste of it and also give “paws up”). Yum.
Frances says
Off topic, but I have been rereading “For the love of a dog”. My dogs had a fairly stressful day yesterday – longer than usual on their own, and a lot of travelling, and then I took Sophy to her class in the evening. I was shattered (not used to that much driving myself anymore!), and when I looked at Sophy’s face she had exactly the drawn, tired look you describe in your book. Superficially she was as lively and friendly as ever – knowing her well I could see just how exhausted she was. So I was not very demanding of her during class, got us both to bed reasonably early, and today we are all having as lazy, relaxing a time as possible. Thanks for helping me to understand my dogs better – and I know the dogs would like to say thank you, too!
Denise says
Well, R.L., now you have to post the recipe for Sex in a Pan – especiall if it involves chocolate!
The carrot cake sounds delicious but I confess to buying baking pans only for decoration – they look nice hung on the kitchen wall. 😉 Besides, somebody has to keep the Bakeries in business…
I’ve been trying to shape Hugh to get into a kiddie pool and lie down. He’d be so much happier on summer days if he’d try it but he won’t even get his paws wet in a puddle if he can help it. We were doing well until he put his feet on the edge of the empty tub I was using and scared himself by flipping it over. Back to the drawing board, this time with weight in the tub. I’d put water in it but figured it was better to get him comfortable with the tub by itself. Water is another hurdle. One thing at a time.
Jenny / BC owner says
Hi
I went in to The Outrun-blog and from there I went in to The Urban Herder. On that blog I found my way in to your blog.:-)
It is so fun to meet other Border collie owners around the world.:-)
I have to try that carrot bread. It looks really delicious.
/Jenny
Cheap Business Cards Online says
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