Carrot Banana Cake

Did I happen to tell you how simply wonderful this carrot banana cake was or how miracuously after my 3 year old ( who was helping stir in the moist ingredients) spilled half the batter how it still turned out simply fantastic and not only wowed my boyfriend who requested this strange cake for his birthday but wowed my children into eating every last slice! I did a fresh whipped cream frosting with a hint of vanilla added in before I whipped it up. It would be equally fantastic with your favorite cream cheese icing too! This is such a GREAT cake for Fall and one I plan to re-make here real soon, the texture is firm but sooo moist!I doubled the recipe but you can do a loaf cake or sheet cake with the measurements as they are. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!


Charlies Carrot Banana Cake

Ingredients:


All purpose flour  1 and 1/2 cup

Sugar 1 cup

Mashed ripe banana (about 2 bananas) 1 cup

Oil 1/2 cup

Eggs 3

Baking powder 2 tea spns

Salt 1/2 tea spn

Cinnamon 1 tea spn

Grated carrot (about 3 med. carrots) 1 cup

Chopped nuts(optional) 1/3 cup



Method:

Beat together sugar, banana and oil. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Add flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon mix well. Stir in carrots.

Pour into greased baking dish. Sprinkle nuts.

Bake 40 to 45 minutes at 350ºF (or until a knife or skewer inserted in the center comes out clean).



Makes 10 to 12 pieces

Preparation time : 1 hr

What Moves Me

I came across this blog through the Pioneer Woman, Ree's blog is fantastic and during the Blogher conference she posted a video that has moved me like few things have...it truly speaks for itself ...I am reposting the text as well. I love Grace's blog, have been reading it for a week now..it is an edited version of her post Forgiveness where it belongs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr4mqcHSCis
Link to the Video on youtube~

October

• The Weather has finally turned & there is a chill in the air!! How wonderful after our 10th hottest Summer on record!! I am enjoying it very much and how it is here to stay...something about throwing the doors and windows open in the morning and airing out a home closed up all Summer is very rejuvinating and I have to admit is leaving me restless to get out and do something..anything outside!!....On a side note I quit smoking today and made friends with Nicorette fruit chew gum.....I have also vowed to cut out a few things that aren't doing me any good either..more on that later...It is just time, I have a new life begining now and I have got to step up to the plate and take care of myself better in all ways...I have such a wonderful family I love so much and want to be around as long as possible!! Tomorrow is Monday again ...followed by a Tuesday off work.....a date day filled with special time doing whatnots...breakfast, a movie, a little shopping....a walk....fun stuff....October is my favorite month....not because I turn 36 on the 29th...or because my wedding anniversary was on my b-day....nope its the signal of a turn in the seasons and Halloween!!! The boys have there costumes ready to go...black spiderman for Jake....stormtrooper for Nick.....Army guy for Logan....as for me and Charlie...well not sure ...but I am excited for a lot of things this month...Here is what is inspiring me this month:
• candyapples....fall cakes....chillis...soups and stews....All the things I wasn't into making during the hot Summertime....Speaking of recipes The best Sesame Noodles ever & Quessadillas...Tres Leche Cake.....Blue Cheese & Onion Sauce for Steak....Ribs & Baked Beans...Literally everything I have been cooking for the last month I have found on over at The Pioneer Woman....I love Ree's blog and the food is divine!!
• Organizing and getting the house ready for the holidays....I am starting to really feel at home now...I am looking forward to settling in even more...
• Scary Movies...even though I am the only one who watches them!!
• Soccer and time spent outdoors...sweaters...blankets...and camping!

What is inspiring you?????

My Status Report September

These status report which I borrowed from here is such a cute little list , I feel as good about it as I do about gratitude journals, feel free to borrow one for yourself as well!

My Status Report - Begining of September 2009:

Sitting . . . with my family and Charlie today enjoying a nice quiet and relaxing day at home, thinking how nice it is to have the weekend to spend at home after a busy month traveling...

Drinking . . . French lemonade...the very berry variety..and it is divine...and 7 up...lots of 7 up

Moving . . .Slow ...a late night out with friends has made me one sleepy lady today who took an awesome 3 hour nap....shhhhh don't tell anyone...

Reflecting . . . On how wonderful this year has been...the places we have gone...things we did..time spent together and what I hope for and want to happen for my family in the coming months..

Planning . . . To do a lot of camping this fall ....a family reunion in Nov....a new baby in the family due on Thanksgiving...houseguests and b-day parties through Dec....Oktoberfest...sisters b-day...my gf and I going to see Social D...lots of stuff;) I think I need a planner...yup...one I can write in...goood idea..except that I will only use it at first then it will be long lost in the drawer with all the planners from yrs past...only to be picked up so I may have lots of Oh Ya molments.

Looking Forward To . . . Camping and my boys bdays and of course Christmas!! And seeing the Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond in person at changing hands book store & her cookbook!

Wanting . . . a more organized home with a goal to make that happen by Dec...Container Store here I come.

Hoping . . . That my 13 yr old and I can get some alone time this week

Regretting . . . that I only cleaned the downstairs this am and left the upstairs until tomorrow

Stressing. . . over nothing major just the usual junk...

Surprised . . .everyday at how amazing childhood can be through the eyes of a mommy

Studying . . . A dozen or so recipes I intend to start whacking away at tomorrow.....shrimp quesadillas....tres leche cake.....ribs....baked beans....caesar salad...bacon cheddar biscuits....all found here

Frustrated . . . cuz I need help with getting the garage cleared out and I might as well need a stun gun to instigate it..

Eager . . . to read my Jack O Vanity Fair mag tonight that came in the mail...yay!

Enjoying . . . rather loving a weekend spent at home

Missing . . . my family out of state

Thanks for the inspiration!! Hope your Weekends are beautiful!

Mondays Moments & Inspirations

What a month it has been, the boys are back to school and it is in full swing!! A trip out to Nebraska to visit my family was divine and the time spent with my mother and sister wonderful...It has been quite a month full of ups and downs...on this last day in August I have peace finally (well almost) in my heart and my mind. Most of all I have once again found faith and strength and I almost feel as if I am ready to start a new life with my beautiful family .....Here is what we've been up to and what is inspring me this week....Taking photos of Hummel Park in Nebraska, one of the most haunted frightening places in the US. Loving being spoiled by my grandmother just like I was a little girl all over again. Making memories with a fantastic Banana-Carrot Cake for Charlie's Birthday that was to die for (really)! Staring to feel like fall I am thinking pastas and pumpkins...Halloween parties and costumes for the boys...loving the fact that we will be spending the first week of the month in San Fransisco and that there is so much to look forward to! This fall it will be all about working around the home getting settled and things in place..I am so thankful for my loving and beautiful family, together we can overcome anything and are stronger now than I ever imagined......There has been a lot of hugs lately...a lot of tears...a lot of little molments and a lot of laughter!

Mondays Moments & Inspirations

A New Week...What Have I Been Up To Lately???



Celebrating a wonderful first anniversary at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge, listening to some great music under the stars , staying for the last song, admiring a beautiful sunset, dancing in the elevator, sleeping in, having wonderful sushi, window shopping,.....what a great time!!!

Busy at work....thankfull.....full of new ideas....love my job....lots of late days & Mike out on surgical leave is amazingly inspiring me ....sales have been great too!

Back to school time....clothes...backpacks....shots...supplies...meeting teachers...organizing afterschool activites....all of these fun things coming up ..it has been a busy last month of Summer ...Hard to believe this is the last week!! Although the kids won't admit it they really are excited...I have a hundred dollars to stretch three ways tomorrow evening...I have high hopes..I will post more on that later!!

How are you spending these last weeks of Summer??

What is Inspiring me this Summer~~

~Boho style & re-purposing the embroidered peasant blouses in my closet...

~Clothing designs that are making the need to get sewing nothing other than pressing...think bright bold colors...lot's of pink & orange...stripes...ruffles & a long canary yellow chiffon dress...

~Cupcakes I wanna bake...am I out of my Pie stage...? Well after the Peach maybe:)

~The need & desire to decorate our massive staircase with black & whites & hang those dusty green curtains

~Lemonade....maple syrup & Cayenne Pepper to be exact ala the master cleanse which I can only seem to go on half way....

~Stopping smoking!!!

~Water water & more water along with a lot of Spinach & Eggs.....ie: dieting my way

~Swimming...

~bright lovely flowers

~fresh garlic & herbs

~letting the kids go crazy with their artwork

~sidewalk chalk!!!

~ Suntea

~Vintage Aprons

~Beads & Cherries ie: designing jewelry in my head (oh so cute)

~yoga videos

~wanting to take the crochet class at Just Bead It so I can make something really neat to give for a gift

What is inspiring you???