Super Moist Carrot Cake

A piece of Super Moist Carrot Cake on a small white plate resting on an orange napkin.
Super Moist Carrot Cake
Print Recipe
    Servings Prep Time
    9x13 pan 30 minutes
    Cook Time
    45-50 minutes
    Servings Prep Time
    9x13 pan 30 minutes
    Cook Time
    45-50 minutes
    A piece of Super Moist Carrot Cake on a small white plate resting on an orange napkin.
    Super Moist Carrot Cake
    Print Recipe
      Servings Prep Time
      9x13 pan 30 minutes
      Cook Time
      45-50 minutes
      Servings Prep Time
      9x13 pan 30 minutes
      Cook Time
      45-50 minutes
      Instructions
      Cake
      1. Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9"x13" pan with non-stick spray.
      2. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Set aside.
      3. In a large bowl whisk together oil and sugar. Add eggs one at a time whisking well to fully combine after each. Stir in orange juice and vanilla.
      4. Whisk in half of the dry ingredients followed by half the milk. Repeat with remaining dry ingredients and milk, whisking only until just combined. Stir in carrots, pineapple and coconut. Pour into prepared pan and bake on the middle rack for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
      5. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely at room temperature. Once cooled, spread evenly with cream cheese icing. Cut into 20-24 pieces and serve.
      Cream Cheese Icing
      1. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add butter and beat until fully combined and fluffy. Add vanilla and powdered sugar and beat until just combined and smooth. Spread onto cooled cake.
      Recipe Notes

      -Cake freezes well without icing for up to a month if well wrapped.

      -Cake freezes well if iced and cut into squares, stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

      -Recipe makes for a thick layer of icing.  Icing freezes well on its own in an airtight container for up to a month.

      Pecan Crusted Chicken Cutlets

      Pecan Crusted Chicken Cutlets served in a shallow bowl on top of rice with Cherry Salsa and green onions.
      Pecan Crusted Chicken Cutlets
      Print Recipe
        Servings Prep Time
        3-4 people 25-30 minutes
        Cook Time
        12-18 minutes
        Servings Prep Time
        3-4 people 25-30 minutes
        Cook Time
        12-18 minutes
        Pecan Crusted Chicken Cutlets served in a shallow bowl on top of rice with Cherry Salsa and green onions.
        Pecan Crusted Chicken Cutlets
        Print Recipe
          Servings Prep Time
          3-4 people 25-30 minutes
          Cook Time
          12-18 minutes
          Servings Prep Time
          3-4 people 25-30 minutes
          Cook Time
          12-18 minutes
          Ingredients
          Servings: people
          Instructions
          1. Cut chicken breasts in half and then cut each half horizontally, giving you 8 pieces. Place each piece between two sheets of parchment or plastic wrap and pound to an approximate 1/4" thickness with the flat side of a meat mallet or rolling pin. Season both sides of each cutlet with salt and pepper.
          2. Using a food processor, grind pecans until fine. Add breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and pulse several times to combine. Pour crumbs into a shallow bowl.
          3. In a separate shallow bowl whisk together eggs, sour cream and milk.
          4. Add 1/3 cup flour to a separate shallow bowl and season with salt and pepper. Arrange bowls for breading starting with the flour, then the egg wash and pecan crumbs last.
          5. Heat one tablespoon of oil and one tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Toss 3-4 cutlets into the flour and turn to coat, shaking off the excess flour. Place one cutlet at a time into the egg wash and coat completely. Lay cutlet into pecan crumbs and turn to coat, pressing lightly to adhere the crumbs. Place 3-4 breaded cutlets into the hot pan (don't overcrowd the pan) and cook 3 minutes per side, adjusting your heat if needed. Nuts burn easily, so medium-low heat is recommended.
          6. Remove cooked cutlets to a plate and keep warm in a low oven while cooking remaining cutlets. Wipe out the loose crumbs from the pan with a paper towel after each batch.
          7. Serve cutlets immediately with Cherry Salsa, red pepper jelly or apple fig spread.

          Parsnip Spice Cake

          Parsnip Spice Cake
          Print Recipe
            Servings
            16-18
            Servings
            16-18
            Parsnip Spice Cake
            Print Recipe
              Servings
              16-18
              Servings
              16-18
              Ingredients
              Cake
              Simple Syrup
              Cream Cheese Icing
              Servings:
              Instructions
              Cake
              1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare cake pans as per option 1 or option 2 below.
              2. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, spices and salt.
              3. In a large bowl whisk together eggs, oil, milk and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and whisk until just combined. Stir in parsnips.
              4. Option 1: Line the bottoms of 3 - 8" round cake pans with parchment and spray sides with non-stick spray. Divide batter evenly into each pan and spread out with a spatula (about 13 ounces per pan). Bake on centre rack for 17-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
              5. Remove cake from pans and peel off parchment. Brush each layer with the simple syrup. Arrange one layer on a serving plate and spread with approximately 1/4 of icing. Top with another layer and repeat with icing and top with the remaining cake layer. Ice the top, reserving a small amount of icing to fill in the layer sides. Run a bench scraper or long straight edge spatula around the outside of the cake to smear and flatten the icing into a "naked cake" look. Dust the top with cinnamon and cut into desired wedges.
              6. Option 2: Spray a 9"x13" pan with non-stick spray. Pour batter into the pan and spread out evenly with a spatula. Bake on centre rack for 25-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Brush with simple syrup and spread evenly with frosting. Cut into desired squares and serve.
              Simple Syrup
              1. Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil stirring until sugar is dissolved. Once at a boil, allow syrup to boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in brandy. Allow to cool completely before brushing on the cake.
              Cream Cheese Icing
              1. Beat butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, spices and vanilla. Beat until just combined. Frost cake as desired.

              Homemade Pork Breakfast Patties

              Homemade Pork Breakfast Patties
              Print Recipe
                Servings Prep Time
                12-13 patties 30 minutes
                Cook Time
                8-10 minutes
                Servings Prep Time
                12-13 patties 30 minutes
                Cook Time
                8-10 minutes
                Homemade Pork Breakfast Patties
                Print Recipe
                  Servings Prep Time
                  12-13 patties 30 minutes
                  Cook Time
                  8-10 minutes
                  Servings Prep Time
                  12-13 patties 30 minutes
                  Cook Time
                  8-10 minutes
                  Ingredients
                  Servings: patties
                  Instructions
                  1. Crush fennel seeds with the bottom of a glass or chop with a knife to break apart the seeds.
                  2. Combine crushed fennel with the remaining seasonings and 1/4 cup of water.
                  3. Add ground pork to a large bowl and add seasonings. Mix until seasoning is evenly incorporated but do not overmix. I find it best to use my hands.
                  4. Portion mixture into 2.5 ounces each. Form into 3.5" patties either using your hands or pressing into a ring mold (see note). Place on a flat plate or tray and separate layers with parchment.
                  5. Add 1 tbsp of oil to your favourite medium-size skillet ( I used cast iron) and heat over medium until hot. Add patties to the pan without overcrowding and cook for 4-5 minutes per side until browned and cooked through. Remove from pan and serve immediately. Or keep warm in a low oven and repeat with remaining oil and uncooked patties.
                  Recipe Notes

                  -I like to mix the seasonings with water prior to adding to the pork as I find it helps distribute them nicely without overmixing.

                  -a small dab of water on your hands and/or ring mold between forming patties will keep the stickiness under control.

                  -pre-formed patties can be frozen raw and will keep for at least a month well wrapped and separated with parchment paper.

                   

                  Whole Wheat Peach Streusel Muffins

                  Peach Streusel Muffins
                  Whole Wheat Peach Streusel Muffins
                  Print Recipe
                    Servings Prep Time
                    12 muffins 30 minutes
                    Cook Time
                    18-22 minutes
                    Servings Prep Time
                    12 muffins 30 minutes
                    Cook Time
                    18-22 minutes
                    Peach Streusel Muffins
                    Whole Wheat Peach Streusel Muffins
                    Print Recipe
                      Servings Prep Time
                      12 muffins 30 minutes
                      Cook Time
                      18-22 minutes
                      Servings Prep Time
                      12 muffins 30 minutes
                      Cook Time
                      18-22 minutes
                      Ingredients
                      Streusel Topping
                      Muffins
                      Servings: muffins
                      Instructions
                      Streusel Topping
                      1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until combined and crumbly. Set aside.
                      Muffins
                      1. Set oven rack to the centre and preheat oven to 350°F. Grease or line a 12 cup muffin tin.
                      2. Peel peaches and remove stone. Chop two of the peaches into 1/2" chunks and set aside. Puree the remaining two peaches using a blender or food processor until smooth. Set aside.
                      3. In a small bowl whisk together flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
                      4. In a large bowl whisk together oil and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, whisking after each until incorporated.
                      5. Stir in sour cream, pureed peaches and vanilla. Whisk in dry ingredients until just combined (do not overmix). Fold in chopped peaches.
                      6. Divide batter evenly into prepared muffin tin. Sprinkle each muffin with a generous tbsp of streusel topping.
                      7. Bake for 18-22 minutes or a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
                      8. Allow to cool at least 5-10 minutes prior to removing from muffin tin. Remove to a cooling rack to cool completely or eat while warm.