Carrot Cake Recipe – An Easy, Healthy and Nutritious Dessert for Health Conscious Adults and Kids

February 8, 2010

in Good Food Kitchen

Carrot Cake - A healthy, tasty, home made dessert

Carrot Cake Recipe for all Occasions

My kitchen has turned into a carrot cake factory since past two weeks. Requests by mom and kids to make this cake have driven me crazy. But that also gave me a great opportunity to tweak my carrot cake recipe many times to arrive at the best carrot cake ever made, atleast by me.   

More carrots, less sugar, more whole-wheat, less spice, more nuts, etc… the tweaking options are plenty. But the one tweak I love the most and also have my kid hooked is healthiest carrot cake with lots of carrots, less sugar, less oil, more nuts and presto!!  We have been enjoying some real moist, tasty and nutritious carrot cakes and carrot cupcakes for many occasions.

I have been a fan of carrot cake since my childhood. I was introduced to it by my mother’s friend who baked it for me for any special occasion. Soft, sweet, spongy, dreamy and sans-icing, were her yummy carrot cakes. Since then, I have believed that cakes need no icing to go with. Well made and well baked cakes are all we need to bite into. Icing the cake of course is ‘icing on the cake’.  

Every carrot cake recipe calls for cream cheese icing which has become a de-facto standard for presenting carrot cake. But this one urges you to enjoy your guilt free carrot cake which has oodles of carrot and all other great ingredients that make it healthy, yet so tasty. This carrot cake recipe calls for no frosting or icing. This batter can also be scooped into cupcake papers to make tasty carrot cupcakes, an all-time favorite with kids. 

I have gone light on adding the spice and I wanted more of carrot flavor in the cake. Cinnamon is a great ingredient for carrot cakes as it adds wonderful spice and aroma, even to fresh fruit cakes such as the Apple Cinnamon Cake. You can add host of goodies such as chocolate chips, more cinnamon, nutmeg, garam masala, exotic nuts, chocolate, bananas, other fruits and more to make it interesting. But to begin with, here is the basic carrot cake batter.

Here is my favorite carrot cake recipe – baked to perfection. 

Ingredients for Carrot Cake:

  • Refined Flour/ Maida or Wholewheat Flour - 1 cup
  • Finely chopped/ grated carrots – 1  1/2 cup
  • Vegetable Oil – 1/2 or 3/4 cup
  • Sugar – 1/2 cup
  • Eggs 2
  • Baking Powder – 1 tsp
  • Cinnamon – 1 tsp
  • Salt – a pinch
  • Vanilla – few drops (optional)
  • Chopped Walnuts/ Almonds/ Raisins/ Dates/ etc – 1 cup

    •  

    How to Make the Carrot Cake in just 5 Steps:

    1)  Grease baking dish with oil and dust with flour. Keep aside.

    2)  Sift flour along with baking powder and salt. Keep aside.

    3)  Whisk eggs, add all the ingredients except the flour.

    4)  Fold in the chopped nuts. Finally fold in the flour mixture gently.

    5)  Pour the batter in the greased baking dish and bake at 160 degrees centigrade for about 25 minutes.Skewer test it to see if it is done.  

    Try this recipe to get the best, warm, fuzzy carrot cake that is not only healthy but tastes great. Drop a line for me if this recipe did wonders to your baking escapdes.

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    Nameless and Faceless – An Impressionist Painting in Acrylic Media on Paper

    February 2, 2010

    in My Paintings

    Nameless and Faceless - Acrylic Media on Paper

    This painting, Nameless and Faceless, has been inspired by a photo I had seen long time back. Though I remember nothing more than that, something about it stayed on for long… its form, colors, composition and the whole emotion that it conveyed; I have tried to convey the same with a palette knife. I could never come with a name for this painting for I can never justifiy it enough. So for now it remains, Nameless and Faceless.

    I would be glad if I can see that inspiring photograph once again and also get to meet the person behind it who got so many things right in a single frame.

    This is one of my favorite paintings with shades of blue, browns, ochre, indigoes and black. The subject and the composition may be cliched but the knife strokes are not. For me, these are the soul behind every painting  as the emotion laden strokes can never be copied or reproduced. I think thats the beauty of any original painting and that you cannot really reproduce any work of art. And if you do, it is like a beautiful body without the soul.

    My friends always complain about the dark nature of my paintings. They always ask me if I can come up with something happier. :-) I think these paintings are just another way of celebrating life. And I do not find anything dark or depressing about them.

    There seems to be more joy in these deeper shades and hues.

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    Lecture on Deep Ecology – John Seed Strums his Way into our Hearts

    January 29, 2010

    in Inspiration

    Life had been on the fast track mode since last few months. From relocating to another city, moving into a new apartment, to school hunting for my kid, there has been enough mayhem. Not to mention the stress that comes with it. But midst these whirlwind activities, I got an opportunity to attend a beautiful lecture on Deep Ecology by John Seed – an environmentalist who was instrumental is conserving the rainforests of Australia. I’d rather call him the father of rainforest activism.

    As a part of his lecture tour to India, John Deed has been travelling all over the country talking about Deep Ecology, rainforests conservation, and his past works in different parts of the worlds. The topic of Deep Ecology is very fascinating as it deals with philosophy of nature, which sees that underlying the environmental crisis there is a psychological or spiritual disease stemming from the illusion of separation between humans and the rest of the natural world. He explores the root causes of why our world has come to the state it is now in and we have dichotomized from our roots and the wisdom of our forefathers.

    John Seed is seemingly simple, unassuming and frail. Looking at him it is hard to believe that this man not only thinks like a mountain but also moves a few. This was one of the beautiful lectures attended which had talking and singing love songs for the Earth in equal measure. John Seed believes that this Earth is alive, living and breathing. And that he is trying to do his bit to keep the lovely symphony of life going.

    To read more about the event, here is a link to my coverage on John Seed’s lecture in Chennai on TreeSouls. And here are some of the songs John Seed sang at the Book Point Auditorium (Anna Salai, Chennai on 26th December 2009).

    [Read on…]

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    How to Listen to Music – Dame Evelyn Glennie’s TED Talk got us Listening

    January 13, 2010

    in Inspiration

    “My whole life is about sound. It’s what makes me tick as a human being” says Evelyn Glennie. These words come from the world’s leading solo female percussionist and is one of the finest artists in the world who feels the music and lives by it.   

    There is no other better way to jumpstart my day than by sharing with you an amazing talk by Evelyn which continues to inspire me – almost every day. If you love music, I urge you to watch this video.  

      

    TED Intro: Evelyn Glennie’s music challenges the listener to ask where music comes from: Is it more than simply a translation from score to instrument to audience? How can a musician who has almost no hearing play with such sensitivity and compassion?  

    There are moments when we come across a person, an episode or an incident that can have a deep impact on us. This is probably one of those moments in life that really move you. Forget moving, Evelyn Glennie’s performance gave me goose bumps as I watched her TED talk on “How To Listen to Music”.  

    Not only was her talk amazing but also refreshingly beautiful. It was not about powerpoint visuals but a stage full of percussion instruments, her connection with the audience and total involvement with music – live on the show.  

    There was something surreal and quaint about Evelyn. The things she talked about and confidence with which she demonstrated the nuances of playing and listening music, had me convinced that Evelyn is is no ordinary soul.  

    My amazement was more to do with her informative talk itself. It was quite a sight to see a female percussionist, to top that she was performing barefoot, talking a lot of sense and at the same time educating.  

    It was only after watching her video that I researched more on her. I did not know that Evelyn Glennie was deaf. I am still baffled as to how Evelyn Glennie, like Beethoven, make music she cannot hear?  

    A brief search about her on the web gives an insight into her year-round worldwide performances, winning Grammys, collecting scooters & bikes, her collection of percussion instruments, and more. Evelyn gives more than 100 performances a year worldwide, performing with the greatest conductors, orchestras, and artists.  

    In equal measure is written about her hearing disability. This mention is understandable as WE, the plebia, think that disable people should be respectfully kept aside on the footpath while we walk towards future, progress, blah blah blah.  

    Evelyn Glennie - World's only solo female percussionist with her musical inventions
    Evelyn Glennie – World Famous Solo Female Percussionist at Work

    And then comes along a petite woman who is deaf. She does not take ‘no’ for an answer. She goes the percussion way. She masters the macho instruments; She breaks the male bastion and goes onto become a solo percussionist. She performs in front of live audience. She composes music. She wins awards. She gives motivational talks. And she goes on to teach music. 

    Of course, this is all a bit too much to digest. Not to forget that she is now trying her hand at designing jewellery and cooking. But that’s Evelyn Glennie. She has me humbled, happy and proud. I am longing to see her next performance.  

    “Hearing is a form of touch. You feel it through your body, and sometimes it almost hits your face.”  

    It is believed that Beethoven produced his most complex masterpieces when he was completely deaf. It is also debated that had he not been deaf, he would not have produced pieces of that intensity and complexity making him unparalleled in the music world. I wait to see what more Evelyn is going to do.  

    Evelyn Glennie is currently the vice-president of Hearing Concern and Deafness Research UK, and president of The Beethoven Fund for Deaf Children, which provides musical therapy units to schools for the deaf and partially-hearing across the UK. Read her enlightening and soul warming interview on Hearing (Loss) and Related Issues here  

    “There’s sound everywhere—we just have to listen”  

    To know more about Evelyn Glennie, visit her official website and if you have not been able to view the spectacular TED video I am talking about, you can find a copy on YouTube - How to Listen to Music  

    You may now scroll up to see the video and let me know if your loved the music or lived it!

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    Almond Blossoms Painting by Vincent Van Gogh – A Rare Desolate Bloom, Frozen in Time

    January 1, 2010

    in Inspiration

    Monet’s Lilies.
    Vincent’s Sunflowers.
    Salvador Dali’s Melting Clocks.
    These are the classic icons of the art world that we often come across in our daily lives, in forms other than the stretched canvas. These iconic masterpieces are so popular that they represent the art-world to the world. But there are many more paintings and work by the same masters that, I’d say, are far more captivating, beautiful and awe-inspiring. 

    Almond Blossoms Oil Painting by Vincent Van Gogh

    Almond Blossoms Oil Painting by Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890). Oil on Canvas - 73.5 X 92 cm

     Vincent Van Gogh’s Almond Blossoms is one such masterpiece. Having studied Van Gogh at length, his works, life, including closer to his life fiction, I am surprised how I missed out on this classic painting that tells me a lot more than biography on him would.  Guess I missed the Almond Blossoms midst Sunflowers, Irises, Open Fields and the portraits. 

    One fine afternoon, I chanced upon Almond Blossoms. Strange that I saw this painting on TV on Art Beat on NDTV Good Times. Yes, my jaw dropped then. 

    Almond Blossoms came across as a complete surprise as most of Van Gogh’s paintings were known for melancholy and loneliness. Painted upon good tidings of the birth of his nephew, Almond Blossoms is an unusual piece from Van Gogh’s collection. This turquoise and ivory masterpiece seems like a breath of fresh air in Vincent’s’ as well as our lives. 

    No one can help but admire the beauty of the panting. Watching Almond Blossoms is like having a conversation in your mind. What draws and trains the eye are not the ivory white blossoms, but the knots and gnarls of the branches in simple brush strokes.

    Almond Blossoms branches are twisted and gnarled like a complicated mind with few blossoms of hope. I wonder if it is my imagination and my bent of mind going there instead of landing on the feather blossoms. In simple brush strokes, Van Gogh had managed to complete a true picture of the moment. The myriad expressions he must have felt, at that one moment, are for us to experience. 

    A sudden departure from his color palette, strokes and hues, Van Gogh has conjured up an entirely different painting. It shows how much gloom was in his life and a piece of small news made him paint in a different way, conveying a rare emotion that he felt. Wonder how Van Gogh’s paintings would have been if he was a happy person. 

    His limited color palette is another surprise. His turquoise blues, sepias, white, pink, black, and greens are nothing but born of his color mixing mastery. Something tells me that Vincent must have ran out of colors while he painted it and therefore we can across this rare muted color palette with many tones in between – making Almond Blossoms an absolute rare one. 

    The innate simplicity of the branches and the brush strokes, the amount of color on the brush, are all to engrossing to mull over. Almond Blossoms is a painting you can quietly stare at without a lump in your throat but with a lot more going on in your head. Many art lovers who have seen this painting live have said to have felt mixed emotions watching it. 

    Vincent van Gogh Stichting, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam now houses this masterpiece. If I ever get to goto Amsterdam, it will be to see Almond Blossoms amongst the other masterpieces. I guess I would need at least a week to spend my time in the museum. Here is short description of the painting in the museum website: 

    On January 31, 1890, Theo wrote to Vincent of the birth of his son, whom he had named Vincent Willem. Van Gogh, who was extremely close to his younger brother, immediately set about making him a painting of his favorite subject: blossoming branches against a blue sky. The gift was meant to hang over the couple’s bed. As a symbol of this new life, Vincent chose an almond tree, which blooms early in southern regions, announcing the coming spring as early as February. 

    True to his nature, Vincent Van Gogh had unknowlingly created this masterpiece. He died the same year. Isn’t this painting a glimpse of, perhaps, one happy moment he savored before his death? 

    The best book that I came across on Van Gogh, is Irving Stone’s Lust for Life which I would recommend you to read it if you want to understand his paintings more.

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    The Best of Wandering Mist in 2009 – An Exciting Year that Went By

    December 31, 2009

    in Everything Else

    2009 What a wonderful year it has been – charming, happy, depressing, heartening, enlightening and as good and bad as any other year would be. Few more seasons have gone, the climate got warmer, we learnt a bit more about things outside and things within and added lot more grey hair than we would like :-)

    Looking back, it feels good to see Wandering Mist grow slowly from a ‘wondering if I did it right’ test post to a full fledged art and design blog. There was never a specific aim or a set direction in which this was supposed to go. Wandering Mist has been crawling slowly and lovingly as a baby. It evolved with time, by wandering around.

    Today is a perfect time to write a round-up-of-this-year post, as a recap to myself and my fellow wanderers. And to see how exciting this place has been. Here are some of the top articles that got many a wanderers around in here. To stay.

    1) Recycle Old Magazines into Eco-Chic Gift Wrapping Paper

    2) Gift a Heartwarming Box of Pink Roses

    3) Green Birthday Invitation – Make your own Handmade Greeting Card from Recycled Paper

    4) Marigold Flowers and White Candles make an Exotic Floral Centerpiece

    5) The Charm of Poinsettias in Christmas and Holiday Season

    6) Photo Shoot for Contemporary Jewellery Designer of Semi-Precious Stones in Silver

    7) Semolina or Suji Cake – Quick, Easy, Healthy and Tasty Recipe

    8 ) Diwali Theme Photo Shoot for Award Winning South Indian Recipes & Ayurvedic Cook Books

    9) Ishrath’s Paintings Gallery

    10) Frugal Table Centerpiece Ideas for Holiday Decorating

    I wish you all wanderers, a very happy new year.

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    100 Paintings in 100 Days Marathon – Get your Portrait Done in Fauvian Style by Carol Nelson

    December 26, 2009

    in Inspiration

    100 Paintings in 100 Days Marathon

    100 Paintings in 100 Days Marathon

    Once in a while you come across a painter’s work of art and say Wow! But there are very few artists whose works continually go beyond the wow-factor and make you want to linger around a bit more than usual. Carol Nelson is one of them. I admire her works which are so strikingly beautiful… and sometimes get inspired too.

    Carol is going strong with her 100 Paintings in 100 Days Marathon. She is accepting your portrait photographs, to translate them into 6 x 6 paintings in her favorite Fauvian style.

    My 3 Potrait Photo Entries for the Painting Marathon

    My 3 Potrait Photo Entries for the Painting Marathon

    I had sent her three photos of the three different people hoping that she may selects at least one. She liked all the entries and may take time to decide which one she would like to paint. But paint one, she will. I am more than excited about it. I can’t wait to see how she is going to translate these slice-of-life photos of these 3 lovely people and beautiful souls who have me humbled and happy, onto a 6 X 6 masterpiece.

    Want your portrait done?
    You can send her bust length photographs of the subject you want painted and it can include yours. She is skimming through many photos that have been sent to her by her art admirers but would prefer the kinds of shots that have more depth, light play, shadows, and a striking story to tell. Flat flashed photos on face are not really exciting to her. Here is the link to her blog post which clearly spells out the eligibility criteria. It is very easy to go for it. If you like her paintings, made from the photo you have sent to her on gessoboard or MDF panel, you can buy them too.

    One thing I know for sure is that I will, once again, be amazed. To see the photo translated onto a canvas, through the artist’s creative eye, will be quite an experience.

    I would say, experience it yourself. See some of her finest works on display and for sale here

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    Deep Rooted – An Abstract Painting in Oils

    December 19, 2009

    in My Paintings

    Impressionist Oil Painting "Deep Rooted" in Oil Media

    Impressionist Oil Painting "Deep Rooted" in Oil Media

    Inspired by one of my favorite artist, Carol, and consumed by my own unwritten guide, “Deep Rooted” was born.

    It all happens when you get restless. All you need are few tubes of colors, brushes or knives and a canvas to sate. This painting was done one fine afternoon when there was many other pressing things to do. But it had to sprout. Else, nothing else could have been possible.

    Deep Rooted (12 x 12) in oils, is now hung to dry.

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    Frugal Table Centerpiece Ideas for Holiday Decorating

    December 18, 2009

    in Arts and Crafts, Inspiration

    This holiday season calls for doing your dreams, taking those risks and trying things that have been in the back of your mind. Keep the ‘quirky’ mantra alive and have fun decorating this holiday season with somewhat strange yet beautiful arrangements. Here are some unusual table centerpiece ideas that use the traditional decorating items with a new twist.

    Overturned Wine Glasses with Tealights
    Turn your glasses upside down for a different toast. Place holly leaves, nosegay or any decorative piece inside the overturned glass and light a tea light or candle on the overturned base. It looks beautiful in daytime and enchanting at night.

    Great Conversation Starter with Overturned Wine Glass with Tealights

    Great Conversation Starter with Overturned Wine Glass with Tealights

    LED Fairy String Lights with Floral Accents as Table Centerpiece
    If fireflies made your forests magical, little fairy lights can bring in the same sparkle, warmth and glow to your holiday decorating.  Get creative with Fairy Lights String to kick start some twinkling decoration ideas for this holiday season. Here is a quirky table decoration idea that inturn becomes a conversation starter. Invert your large glass bowls with fairy lights bundled up inside. Light them up. Accentuate these glowing bowls with twigs, branches or flowers for more striking drama.

    String of LED lights inside Glass Bowl for Holiday Table Centerpiece
    String of LED lights inside Glass Bowl for Holiday Table Centerpiece
    Overturned Glass Bowls with LED String Lights Table Centerpiece

    Overturned Glass Bowls with LED String Lights Table Centerpiece

    Table Centerpiece with Plain Crystal Glass Votives and Candles
    Just grouping pillar candles of different heights can make any dull corner come alive. Similarly, wine glasses, glass motives and tea lights of different heights can be grouped together to create a warm table centerpiece that needs no embellishment. Its warm fuzzy candle light reflected on your crystal cannot be missed.

    Club Candles, Votives & Wine Glasses of Different Heights for Festive Warmth and Glow

    Club Candles, Votives & Wine Glasses of Different Heights for Festive Warmth and Glow

    Table Centerpiece with Limonium Dried Flowers, Glass Votives and Candles
    If plain vanilla table arrangement is not your type; accentuate. Add some dried flowers such as limonium, dried baby’s breath, or plain twigs for a simple and elegant table centerpiece. Use Limonium sparingly so that the delicate dried flowers are seen instead of clubbing them too much. Let the tea lights play with the shadows.

    Tealights in Gladd Votives for Festive Warmth and Glow

    Tealights in Glass Votives for Festive Warmth and Glow

    Dried Flowers such as Limonium and Baby's Breath are Perfect for these Evening Table Centerpieces

    Dried Flowers such as Limonium and Baby's Breath are Perfect for these Evening Table Centerpieces

    Take a no holds barred approach when it comes to decorating. Feel free to depart from traditional centerpieces, yet retain the festivity and charm of holiday decor. Create ideas instead of following them. What was the quirky thing you did last? Did you do anything different at all? Come on…

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    Make your Dinner Table Magical with Fairy Lights Centerpiece

    December 15, 2009

    in Arts and Crafts

    Holiday Season No Flower Centerpiece with Leaves & Candles

    Holiday Season Table Arrangements with No-Flower Centerpiece

    Christmas in recession time does not mean that festivities, decoration and cheer take a backseat. Its in times such as these that creativity takes a front seat, makes magic out of nothing and gives us all a glimpse of wholesome living.

    Here is a quick photo guide on making a simple yet elegant dinner table centerpiece that costs nothing. If you have a spare string of fairy lights and few twigs with leaves… you are ready to go. You dont even need fresh cut flowers for this.

    DIY Festive Centerpiece - Step by Step Tutorial on Table Arrangement with Branches and Fairy Lights String

    DIY Festive Centerpiece - Step by Step Tutorial on Table Arrangement with Branches and Fairy Lights String

    Spread some twigs or branches which have fresh leaves, on your dinner table. If you want the arrangement to last for a few days, use soaked florists foam and arrange the branches according to the shape and size of the dinner table or as you like it. Wind the fairy lights in a random fashion in and around your branches. There need not be any precision or pattern for nature is perfect with its imperfect design. Light up your fairy lights.

    This by itself looks very beautiful giving out subtle warmth and glow from in-between and beneath the leaves. To add more festive spirit or fragrance, light fragrant candles and let the aroma waft around.

    Simple Festival Table Arrangement with Leaf Branches, Glass Votives, Wine Glasses and Tealights

    Simple Festival Table Arrangement with Leaf Branches, Glass Votives, Wine Glasses and Tealights

    Have a happy and heart warming dinner time, everytime. Light candles together, cook together, bake together, and more. But dont forget to put your legs up to relax every evening to enjoy the little things you have made.

    How are your evenings these days? What magic have you created in your home?

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