Celebrating winters with carrot and orange cake

Its been exactly a month that I posted a new blog. It was not I did not bake the entire month but much to the contrary I baked a lot..seriously a lot but it has been a hectic month and I could not find time to sit and type about it. First it was Diwali and I baked a lot of goodies for giveaways and that had to be done in a short period of time,so I did not click any pics and write about it.This was followed by a wedding in the family and a lot of other social events for which again I did bake but sadly did not find the time to elaborate about it on net. Anyways I am back to baking and blogging now so why elaborate on reasons for not doing so in the past.

The winters are here. Shopping for veggies is more fun when one finds a lot of stuff that had been sorely missed during rest of the year. Oranges, Tangerines, mustard leaves, red carrot, fresh peas, and an incomprehensible variety of greens. Trips to the market have become more therapeutic than ever. We do get carrots round the year in Bangalore but they are those hard, light orange coloured ones. The red carrots make an appearance in the market only for a fortnight or so ,that too at a steep price but its worth it. The juicy firm texture full of flavour is definitely worth it. I grew up eating red carrots and all the year with orange carrots now is a compromise weighing heavily on the anticipation of that once a year ,fortnight of red carrots.
 So quickly before this sacred fortnight passes away,I need to make it more memorable to be able to cherish it and live without it for rest of the year. I decide to capture the love of the season in a heavy moist carrot and orange cake.This became such a hit that I do not have a picture of the final product which means that the cake vanished in moments after its exit from the oven. Nevertheless, will make it again and add the picture later.

Ingredients:
 Grated carrot-2 cups
Eggs-2
Oil-200 ml
Flour-1 and2/3 cup
Sugar-1 cup
Baking powder-1 tsp
Baking soda- 1 tsp
Salt-1/4 tsp
Fresh orange juice-1/2 cup
Zest of an orange- 1 tsp
For the zest of the orange, do not use the local  green and orange  skin variety.Stick to Sunkist orange for best results.
Raisins-handful
Cinnamon powder-1/4 tsp-I find Cinnamon too overpowering in flavour and hence use it sparingly but you can make changes according to your taste here.

1.Mix Oil, Sugar and eggs vigorously.Add the orange juice and zest.
2. Sift in the flour,Baking powder,soda and salt together. I used one cup of all purpose flour and 2/3 cup of wholewheat flour. Feel free to make changes according to your taste here. Mix gently.
3.Combine the grated carrot and a sprinkling on cinnamon.
4. I just added golden raisins to this cake but if you like more nuts, go ahead and add.
5.Pour the batter in greased baking pan and bake at 180 centigrade in a preheated oven for forty minutes or till the skewer comes out clean.
I got three cakes of six inches diameter from the above mentioned quantity.
This cake is heavy and moist in texture and a lovely yellow orange in colour. It is bursting with flavours and sure to be a hit with anyone who loves oranges and carrots.