the titled blog

Dave and I have this thing…whenever we manage to perfect a recipe, it goes in a book and it is titled as what it is, with the following in parenthesis: “(aka the best _______ in the universe)”.
For the past 7 years, I have been making the same cake for Dave’s birthday. It is honest to goodness…the best carrot cake. Period.
For his 30th this year I doubled the recipe, doing each in a spring form, and then stacking them with a layer of cream cheese icing in the middle. (We had to feed a lot of people) It was HUGE. We weighed it just before the guests arrived, and it came in at 10lbs 2.8oz. Holy crap…more than most newborn babies.
But…was it ever good.
So…(and I don’t usually do this) I decided to share the recipe with carrot cake lovers of the world (and possibly convert a few non-carrot cake lovers). Without further ado…

CARROT CAKE.
(aka the best carrot cake in the universe)

This is the NON doubled version. Fits ONE regular sized spring form pan.

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp kosher coarse salt
1 cup olive oil (this is the weird one…and make sure it is NOT extra virgin…unless you want it to taste…um…special)
4 eggs
3 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
3 cups finely grated carrots

Mix dry ingredients together. Add oil, eggs and grated carrots and mix well between each ingredient. Bake at 350F for about an hour. Test the center with a toothpick. If it comes out dry, then the cake is done. It is best to let the cake rest for a day in the fridge–it tastes a lot better the next day.

For the icing, it is very simple:

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Blend together until smooth.

Eat. Enjoy. (Like I really had to tell you that though.)

PS: Yes, that is Star Wars lego next to Daves birthday cake. Those were his decorations.

Today was Dave’s b-day! THe above picture is Dave warming his hands on the 29 candles…and consequently trying to blow them out (which took a few tries).
Today we went to the most fab little Vietnamese restaurant in Abbotsford called “New Saigon”. Dave’s favourite meal there is called the “Henry’s Special”, which today he has officially rated as his top 3 favourite restaurant dishes. I always get the hot pot soup, which…seriously…is the most amazing soup I’ve ever tasted. An added bonus–New Saigon is totally reasonably priced. Best Vietnamese in town. Fo’ shiz.
I didn’t take any pictures at dinner today though, because I’ve been a spacey blogger lately and haven’t brought my camera anywhere really. *sigh*

I will be a better blogger.
I will be a better blogger.
I will be a better blogger.
I will be a better blogger.
I will be a better blogger.
I will be a better blogger.
I will be a better blogger.
I will be a better blogger.
I will be a better blogger.
I will be a better blogger.
….

I spent most of today getting a little intensive editing done…and when that happens, I usually forget things like dinner. (Dave was gone all day, so I also have a hard time justifying cooking for one)
Incidentally, it is now 10:30PM, and all I’ve eaten today is a small amount of chow mein and some chocolate cake.
I was going to have some news for today, but I found that it will have to wait till Monday.  Let’s just say I’ve been perusing the iTunes store a lot more in the last few days.
Just you wait. :)

*side note* This morning Dave informed me that he needed a picture of himself doing dishes for a sermon illustration.  What a great way of tricking him into doing all the breakfast dishes!  Err…I mean…Look! Dave is doing the dishes for me!  I didn’t trick him at all!  What a lucky girl!