Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

A Slice of Carrot Cake

I told myself that every week I am going to bake some pastries and goodies to improve my baking skills.   This weekend,  I made a moist, yummy and flavourful Carrot Cake with cream cheese frosting. Carrot is  an excellent source of vitamin A, and a good source of vitamins C and K, fiber and potassium.

My carrot cake fresh from the oven

 Here are the ingredients of this soft and yummy carrot cake:

3     Cups  grated carrots
2     Cups  all purpose flour
4     Eggs
1 1/2 Cups white Sugar
2     Tsp. ground cinnamon
1     Tsp. baking powder
2     Tsp. baking soda
1/2  Tsp. salt
1     Cup vegetable oil
1 1/4 Tsp. vanilla
1     Can (8 ounce) crushed pineapple with juice
1     Cup chopped cashew nuts

Ingredients for the frosting :

2    Cups confectioners' sugar
1    Can (8 ounce) cream cheese
1/2 Cup softened butter
1 1/4 Tsp. vanilla
1    Cup chopped cashew nuts

 Directions  :

1.  Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit  (175 degrees Centigrade)
2.  Grease and put some flour into the 9x13 inch baking pan
3.  Combined the dry ingredients in a large bowl : Flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and cashew nuts.
4.  Combine the wet ingredients in another bowl and mix  : Eggs, oil, vanilla, pineapple, carrots.
5.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until fully mixed.
6.  Pour the batter into the baking pan and bake in 40 mins.
7.  For the frosting, combine the confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla and beat until smooth. Then add, the cashew nuts.

Preparation Time : 30 mins.
Cooking  Time     : 40 mins.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Million People March to Luneta !

Million People March to Luneta

August 26, 2013

August 26, 2013 is Philippine Holiday commemorating "National Heroes Day."  Today, we do not only remember and honor the national heroes throughout the Philippine history.  This is a significant day for ordinary Filipinos from all walks of life as they participate rain or shine in the "Million People March to Luneta".  The controversy surrounding the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam which  broke out recently linking the now fugitive Janet Lim-Napoles to several legislators.  It was said that Napoles had established a number of NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) which were getting financial assistance for projects from some Legislators' Philippine Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).  The said NGOs turned out to be bogus and Napoles and some legislators were said to have pocketed the fund and benefited from the Filipinos' hard earned money.  This controversy was highlighted in various media which ignited the anger of millions of Filipinos prompting them to go out and hold a big rally versus "Pork Barrel" and corruption. It was very disgusting to hear this at the time that a number of Filipinos were affected by the heavy flood and torrential rains and who were in need of great help. 

Big Rally vs. Pork Barrel System at Luneta Park

Photo from Xinhuanet.com

Protest against corruption

Juana Change, a comedian disguised as a pig joins the Million People March

Photo from GMA Network

People and pigs call for the abolition of the pork barrel
Photo from Inquirer.net

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) show support to the anti-pork barrel rally
Photo from GMA Network

This message was shared in Facebook

Where is  Janet-Lim Napoles ?... I think she disguised herself into a frog (Posted in facebook)

Jeanne Lim-Napoles, daughter of Janet Napoles  and her lavish lifestyle (Posted in facebook)

This van which resembles like a pig was described as "The Senators' Van" which was posted in Facebook

No to Pork Barrel !

Yummy Banana Oat Muffins

Banana Oat Muffin

It was a special non-working day in the Philippines last August 21, 2013 to commemorate the martyrdom of the late senator, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. so this gave me some time to practice baking and to try my newly purchased La Germania 600 Series model :).  I sticked to La Germania brand since our old gas range and oven had been with my family for over 20 years now and is still working.  The oven feature is now out of order so I bought a new one.

I have some riped bananas at home so I decided to make banana oat muffins, a high fiber version of the banana muffins with the addition of whole-wheat flour, rolled oats and raisins. Hmmm, this is going to be so yummy !

Here are the ingredients :

*  1    Cup whole wheat flour

*  1    Cup all purpose flour

*  2    Very riped bananas, mashed

*  2    Eggs, lightly beaten

*  1    Cup brown sugar

*  1/4 Cup canola or vegetable oil

*  1/2 Cup rolled oats

*  1/2 Cup golden raisins

*  1  1/2 Tsp. baking powder

*  1/2 Tsp. Cinnamon

Instructions:

1.   Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit

 

2.  In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients - whole wheat and all purpose flours, baking powder, cinnamon and rolled oats.

3.  In a medium bowl, combine the wet ingredients - riped bananas, brown sugar, eggs and oil and mix until smooth.

4.   Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until incorporated and add the raisins.

5.   Place the paper liners into your muffin pan and distribute the batter evenly.

6.   Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Preparation Time : 10 mins.

Cooking Time      : 20 mins.

Total Time            : 30 mins.

Freshly Baked Banana Oat Muffins

The Wrath of Habagat Strikes Again !

Aerial Shot of the Philippine deadly flood

 Photo from the  Department of National Defence (DND) 

This week the Philippines once again experienced the wrath of "Habagat" (Southwest monsoon). Manila and most parts of Luzon submerged in water due to heavy rains.  Tropical storm "Maring" has been pulling the Southwest monsoon resulting to torrential rains in Luzon. Many Filipinos in affected areas were evacuated and needs HELP !

South Luzon Express Way flood near Southwoods

People traveling in South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) were stranded due to flash flood.  Vehicles were engulfed by heavy flood.

Roads turned rivers and people are the fishes.

Despite the unfortunate event, this man did not forget his four-legged friend, his dog :)

A boy carrying his furry friend while walking in floodwaters.

Photo By Romeo Ranoco/Reuters

 Rescuers pulling a rubber boat in Las Pinas City. Filipino Bayanihan spirit in action.  Bayanihan refers to a spirit of communal unity and cooperation

From : Yahoo News

 The Town of Binan, Laguna submerged in water

This photo was shared by my friend in Facebook.  Prior to moving to Santa Rosa City,  I lived in Binan for more than 10 years.  I finished my high school in this town and became a member of the choir in the church you see in this photo, the San Isidro Labrador Parish Church.  Sad to say "Habagat" did not spare this town.

 Let's light a candle and pray for our country