Super Easy Carrot Cake
Super easy carrot cake recipe using only one bowl! Brilliant.
Did you have an awesome weekend guys? Am definitely not loving the crappy cold winter and you know what makes me happy? Baking something that fills the house with the smell of cinnamon and sugar! Enter this beautifully easy carrot cake recipe that I spotted over at The Cake Mistress.
Seriously dudes, best recipe evah! Using only one bowl! Brilliant. Also, I have issues with walnuts in my carrot cake so I left em out and I ran outta nutmeg but hey whatever floats your boat yo! Dear future self: doubling recipe to make cupcakes = 30 cupcakes
Ingredients for the cake:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
Pinch salt
½ tsp bicarb soda
2 cups self raising flour
2 cups finely grated carrot (around 4 large carrots)
½ cup walnuts, finely chopped
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
Cream cheese frosting
300g icing sugar
125g cream cheese, cold
50g unsalted butter, room temp
Heat oven to 180C. Beat the 1 cup brown sugar and 1 cup oil until thick.
Add 1 egg at a time, beating after each for a few more minutes
Check out my mini grater! haha I hardly ever grate anything!
Add the pinch of salt, ½ tsp bicarb soda, 2 cups grated carrot, 2 cups self raising flour, ½ cup walnuts and spices and mix with a wooden spoon until combined
Hello batter. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until light golden and cake springs back when touched in the middle. If you’re doing cupcakes bake for 12 minutes.
Oops don’t have pics of the icing but hey make sure your cake has cooled down before making the icing. Just beat the icing sugar and butter together with an electric mixer until well mixed. Add the cream cheese and beat until it is completely incorporated and fluffy.
Oh hello
Sliceage!
Mother’s Crepe, Parramatta – Closed
The newly opened Mother’s Crepe (Shop 1167, Level 1, Westfield Parramatta). Caramel Strawberry Cheesecake Soft Ice Cream crepe- Check it out baby! A swirl of vanilla ice cream and covered in whipped cream! Strawberry slices! And caramel sauce! And a whole slice of cheesecake!
Dinner Breakfast and a show anyone? The smell of freshly cooked crepes is intoxicating and you can’t help but slow down as you walk by to take a squizz at the crepe making action.
Noods chose the Hawaiian crepe, refusing to eat anything remotely sweet in the mornings. The lettuce managed to stay crisp when it was folded up but could’ve done with more cheese. Like, 10x more cheese. Didn’t take a pic of finished crepe cos when hot crepes are folded all the ingreds are tucked away inside. It tasted hawaiian-y with the ham slices and the pineapple pieces joining forces with the tomato sauce but next time will see if I can ask for double the ingredients lol
I ordered the Caramel Strawberry Cheesecake Soft Ice Cream crepe because the last time I ate it, it was deeeelicious. And also last time I had to eat it while walking and I haz coordination issues. Check it out baby! A swirl of vanilla ice cream and covered in whipped cream! Strawberry slices! And caramel sauce! And a whole slice of cheesecake!
Yukis at the Quay, Circular Quay
Yukis at the Quay (Level 4, Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay) is one of those places that is a hidden gem, so hidden that I’ve never noticed it just behind the psychedelic Cruise bar. The Paper Hot Pot: Premium Wagyu beef and seasonal vegetables ($45) is off the chain insane.

There’s not too many places on the Sydney Harbour where you can get awesome Japanese food + unobstructed views of the Opera House and not break the wallet. Yukis at the Quay (Level 4, Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay) is one of those places that is a hidden gem, so hidden that I’ve never noticed it just behind the psychedelic Cruise bar.

Take the lift up to the 4th floor and be greeted by the unmistakable sight of the Opera House. Or by the knowing grin of Helen who knows all too well how easily I get lost.

Today’s assorted sashimi ($45) is a riot of colour, the selection of fish so fresh that yes, it could jump off the plate. Or swim. You know what I mean. Toshi, the charming manager at Yukis at the Quay has invited us to try out the menu and has explained that all the seafood is purchased daily from the Sydney Fish Markets.
I am totally all fangirl with sashimi. I blame this on my introduction to salmon sashimi at a young age by my father (hi dad!) who could devour trays of salmon sashimi in one sitting. Like durian, I was not an immediate convert but over time I grew to love the buttery salmon belly. The sashimi platter is one of the few non sweet foods that will make my eyes sparkle and this platter before us is no exception. The salmon is definitely a winner for me, followed closely by the mackerel and kingfish and while I stay clear of the tuna sashimi thanks to my issues with texture I greedily scarf all the colours of the fish rainbow.

The Wagyu beef tataki with ponzu sauce and garlic chips ($18) is beautifully presented, thin slices of bovine deliciousness with lightly seared edges.

Deep fried soft-shell crab and mix leaf salad with Yukis dressing ($20) was unfortch a little bit of a letdown- the crab a tad too oily and the palate cleansing salad drenched in dressing.

Paper Hot Pot: Premium Wagyu beef and seasonal vegetables ($45) is off the chain insane. Mouth get ready for a taste explosion! The Wagyu marble score is 7+ and is the perfect balance of taste and fat. Delicious fat. And who doesn’t love a bit of a dreamy mini fire at the table…

Snag a slice and begin immersion in the bonito stock!

8 seconds is about right for my liking of cooked-ness with some pinky innards. Dip into the accompanying sesame sauce and nom away! Once you’ve finished the meats add in the veg to soak up some meaty deliciousness

The Chawanmushi was not on the menu and was a suggestion from our waiter and oh how I heart you silky soft tofu innards! Hiding beneath like buried treasure were nubbins of fish, prawns and mushroom.

Aaaand because I was dying for some blowtorch goodness a last plate of aburi salmon and scallop to round off our meal.

Oh hello Umeshu. I do love you.

Assorted Desserts- green tea tiramisu, white sesame blancmange, assorted fruit with almond tuile ($22). So like, I totally just assumed that scoop of white near the fruit was ice cream and dug in a giant spoonful and turns out it was cream ohohoho but that’s ok because I heart cream! If you are not friends with cream then we can never be friends! The green tea tiramisu was fabulous with its layers of cream and super soft sponge though the green tea powdering could’ve done with another sprinkle or two. The blancmange curiously tasted more like white chocolate than white sesame but no worries mate cos I like white chocolate and all too soon the bowl was scraped clean. And lols we were fascinated by the lantern which was made from a super thin carving of daikon!

Tee hee cheeeeeese 😀
ChocolateSuze dined courtesy of Yukis at the Quay
Ma’leisia Cafe, Parramatta – Closed
Ma’leisia Cafe (5/2 Horwood Pl, Parramatta) is open during the week day and for lunch on Saturdays. There is no teh tarik or kopi-o so we start with Ais kacang ($4.90), cendol, chicken rice, curry laksa, roti canai
Edit: CLOSED When Shaun mentioned on the twittersphere about a new Malaysian cafe that just opened up in my hood my ears (and stomach) perked up. Ma’leisia Cafe (5/2 Horwood Pl, Parramatta) is open during the week day and for lunch on Saturdays. There is no teh tarik or kopi-o so the boy and I start with an Ais kacang ($4.90) which is drenched in rose syrup and contains hidden nubbins of rambutan, grass jelly, red beans and topped with a dollop of sweet corn.
Ma’leisia kaya on toast ($3.90) woooooot easy access to kaya on toast at loooong last! Yeah baby yeah! I asked for extra kaya on the side (not sure if there was extra charge) and while not super pandan-y, it was deeeelicious!
Ma’leisia Ipoh Chicken Rice (lunch special $8.90) was perfect. Fragrant chicken rice with tender, juicy pieces of chicken topped with fried garlic. The accompanying soup was fragrant but the bed of bean sprouts was pushed away, unwanted. I haz issues with bean sprouts. Just like how I haz issues with raisins in my cookies.
Chicken Curry Laksa (lunch special $8.90) was crazy spicy, even for the boy. I think we are much too used to laksa lemak which is rich in coconut milk so this laksa felt like we should be eating it with roti haha
Ma’leisia signature Nasi Lemak (lunch special $10.90). The fried chicken had unfortch sold out so I chose the salt & pepper calamari which curiously looked a lil like they’d come from a packet- such perfect looking scrolls! Golden and crunchy the moreish calamari was perfect after a crazy Friday night out.
Roti Canai ($7.90) comes with a choice of curry chicken or beef and 2 pieces of delicious roti. The curry is perfect for a winter day, a rich gravy begging for pieces of roti to be dipped into.
Cendol ($4.90) arrives in a tall glass which messes with my coordination when trying to dig out the pandan noodles. It was a little heavy on the coconut milk and I had issues with the red beans haha but not bad still shiok 😛
Cadbury Mousse Indulgence Giveaway
5 lucky ChocolateSuze readers will win a Cadbury Dairy Milk Mousse chocolate indulgence pack containing Three blocks of Cadbury Mousse, Ecoya Vanilla Bean Everyday Tin, A copy of The Devil Wears Prada and Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula 50ml
Thanks to the awesome peeps at Liquid Ideas I scored some Cadbury Dairy Milk Mousse chocolate to try out and oh my freaking goodness! Helloooo deliciousness! I’m gonna be corny and say it’s just like a super delicious hug made of chocolate. A chocolate hug oh yes. Rich mousse encased in smooth and creamy Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate you know you want it right?
5 lucky ChocolateSuze readers will win a Cadbury Dairy Milk Mousse chocolate indulgence pack containing:
· Three blocks of Cadbury Mousse – chocolate, hazelnut and caramel
· Ecoya Vanilla Bean Everyday Tin
· A copy of The Devil Wears Prada and
· Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula 50ml
All you have to do is leave a comment in this blog post answering:
What is your favourite chocolate memory?
The most creative entry will win this awesome prize! You can enter as many
times as you like, but you must be an Australian resident. Please enter a valid
email address. Competition closes Friday 22nd July 2011, 10am AEST.