Tag Archives: Carrot Cake

Meet & Greet

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Wednesday, January 23, 2013 – Cotacachi, Ecuador

Today the neighbors all got together for Meet & Greet. What a fun time we had chatting and telling stories of old. It was one of those bring a dish affairs, and although it’s a small neighborhood, there were three versions of guacamole – but nobody’s complaining, especially not me. I love guacamole! Avocados are God’s gift to us humans to give us a glimpse at what heaven is like.

I brought my, now famous, carrot cake. It was a hit. Actually, since it was the only dessert there, it was sure to be a winner!

Here’s my recipe. Enjoy!

Mari’s Carrot Cake

INGREDIENTS
2 cups self rising flour*
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups sugar (I use raw)
3 eggs
3/4 cup plain yogurt
3/4 cup vegetable oil (I use sunflower)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups shredded carrots
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup fresh pineapple diced very small (canned crushed pineapple can be used)
1 cup raisins

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 9×13 inch pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and sugar. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, scramble eggs, add yogurt, oil, and vanilla. Mix well.
  4. Add flour mixture and mix well.
  5. In a medium bowl, combine shredded carrots, coconut, walnuts, pineapple and raisins.
  6. Using a large wooden spoon or spatula, add carrot mixture to batter and fold in well.
  7. Pour into prepared 9×13 inch pan, and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour. Check with toothpick.
  8. Open oven door and allow cake to cool for at least 40 minutes before serving.

* In the Mountains of Ecuador I recommend “Ya Harina con Polvo de Hornear”

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Day 59 – Celebrating Jora

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Friday, September 7, 2012 – Cotacachi, Ecuador

Today Bruce and I both woke up early.  We went to bed early last night since our Saitel internet service was down again. So today it was early to rise.

Organic Produce

I was just starting breakfast when our delivery of organic produce showed up.  And I thought we were up early!  Hector from Finca Organica Kurkikindl came in with a bin full of produce:  kale, carrots, radishes, Swiss chard, turnips, baby zucchini, basil, cilantro, rocket (arugula), parsley, and broccoli.  All for $5!  I was ecstatic!  After breakfast I sat down at the computer to look up recipes and decided on Carrot Soup, Carrot Cake and Pasta with Swiss Chard.  I grated all the carrots, but needed a few other ingredients before I could start cooking.

Unfortunately, we were waiting on Saitel.  Our internet service has not been working at the speed we are paying for.  I was told they would be out sometime today, but we’ve been told that since the 1st of September.  We also were waiting on the last of the papers we needed to file for our residency Visa.

Around 10:00 AM we saw a man walking down the street with a FedEx envelope in his hand.  Assuming it was for us, Bruce met him at the door.  After he left we chuckled at the thought that he was on foot.  No wonder the papers took so long to get here!

We did a little work around the house.  When 2:oo PM rolled around, and still no word from Saitel.  We decided to head out and watch the parade celebrating Jora (a celebration of corn).  First we headed to lunch at Solid Rock.  Then onto the parade.

Poster: Jora 2012

The parade was scheduled to start at 3:00 PM.  The parade route was blocked off and the police presence was strong.  The Vice President was coming in for the parade and there were several other dignitaries present.  People were gathering as vendors started hocking their wares.  The mood was quite festive.

We saw the first signs of the parade around 3:40 PM.  There were floats from different groups, including many of the nearby towns and villages.  There were dancers of all ages.   There were musicians, and marching bands. It was an impressive parade that we watched for over 2.5-hours, but as the sun started to go down, the air began to chill.  We tried to hold out until the parades end, but I finally gave in and we headed back to the house.  We stopped at Tia’s, the local grocery store, and picked up the few items I needed to start cooking.  When we got home I realized it was nearing 7:00 PM so I decided to just make the Carrot Soup and Carrot Cake, since the carrots had already been grated.  The Pasta with Swiss Chard will wait for another day.

LESSON LEARNED:  Give thanks for God’s bounty.

Invoice from Finca Organica Kurkikindl

Marching Band in Jora Parade

Float in Jora Parade 1

Float in Jora Parade 2

Dancer in Jora Parade 1

Dancer in Jora Parade 2