Taste... finally!

It gets around to the eating!

I'm sure Roseanne has something fabulous cooked up ~ food-wise and project-wise. 

Fall food... seasonal food.  It's a good news, bad news kind of thing for those of us living in Arizona... the not-in-the-mountains parts of Arizona.  It's hard to get really excited about a nice roast when you're the one actually roasting.  Even though the magazines are full of fabulous looking and sounding "Fall" recipes, we're still thinking salads and take-out, or take-out salads.  Our favorite casseroles, soups and stews will wait at least one more month.

Yesterday I mentioned that today would be a "two-fer" because I would combine a scent with a taste.  When I was growing up, there was always one very familiar and very welcome scent in my home at this time of year.  It wasn't Autumnal in the sense that it had anything to do with nature or the changing seasons.  This was more of a calendar-event. 

My brother's birthday was this past Sunday.  My birthday is in a few days.  My father's birthday was in early November.  In my home, Fall meant birthdays.  And birthdays meant birthday cake.  For the Nelsons, that meant Carrot Cake.

Disclaimer here ~ these are not my carrot cake pictures.  I didn't have time to bake one when I got home late last night from Illinois!  But I will bake one by this weekend. 

  
 I was nine the first time I had Carrot Cake.  Mrs. McCoy made it.  She was my friend Micki's Mom.  Carrot Cake was Micki's favorite kind of cake and when Mrs. McCoy brought out the cake at Micki's birthday party, a couple of us turned up our noses and said something like "... ewwww, carrot cake!  Who wants a cake made with carrots?" in the way that only nine-year-old girls can speak. 

For those of you that watch NCIS, I think Gibbs learned to thwack people on the back of the head from Mrs. McCoy.  I know that thwack.  I've been the recipient of that kind of thwack.  In fact, one preceded my first taste of carrot cake.

About a year later, carrot cake became the "Official Nelson Family Birthday Cake". 

Miss Rosie's Carrot Cake 

 
If you read the introduction to the recipe, no, Mrs. McCoy wasn't the person who wouldn't share her recipe.  That was someone else, and while Mrs. McCoy's recipe was very good, my Mom preferred the one I'm including here.  So did my Dad.  And my brother.  And me.

I'm sure Gudrun, Heather, Terry, Kari, Terri, Linda, Pat, Sandy have cooked up some tantalizing treats to taste ~ just make sure you have enough to share!

I'm off to run a few errands... including the grocery store.  I just checked and I need more carrots, as well as some cream cheese, coconut and crushed pineapple. 

Be back tomorrow. 

One quick thing... one of my very favorite people, Monique Dillard -- Miss Open Gate Quilts and the Fit to be Geese Ruler Queen -- is finally blogging again.  You can go say Hi, see her beautiful new quilts, check out her gorgeous Olde World Style fabric by Maywood and see the soon-to-be new member of her family. 

Comments

[Kathleen B]

Welcome back, Carrie. I'm not the biggest carrot cake fan, but that recipe looks delicious. I'll have to try it...and share it. BTY--an early "Happy Birthday to you!" in case I forget. ~Kathleen

[Claire]

Love the Gibbs comment...too funny. After apple pie, carrot cake is my favourite taste. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

[Teresa]

I've never been a huge fan of carrot cake, but your description makes me want to change my mind. I saved your recipe for an adventurous day! :) Thank you so much for sharing a wonderful family recipe.

~Teresa ;)

[Sew Create It - Jane]

Thanks for the link to the carrot cake...it is the perfect time of year to eat it! Yummy!

[Carmen]

I love carrot cake too, and have a great recipe that (HORRORS) does not have cream cheese frosting, just a yummy glaze that keeps the cke supper moist. But, German Chocolate was always the cake of choice for birthdays in my family (and not from a box, either!)

[Sandra Cudd]

NCIS is one of the shows that I will not miss even if I have to DVR it to watch later. So, I know about Gibbs' thwacking (love it when he does that) Carrot cake...one of my favorites. Hmmmm, most anything spicy is a favorite taste treat for me. thanks for your recipe. And an early Happy Birthday to you.

[Tiffaney]

Thanks for sharing the recipe.

[Sandy (Strlady)]

I love Carrot Cake! It's right up there with Red Velvet cake! YUMMY!!
May your Carrot Cake Birthday be super yummy this year.

[Jocelyn]

Oh yum, I LOVE carrot cake. Off to visit the Monique's blog :-)

[Sharrieboberry]

The last time I made carrot cake was for Easter. It's one of my husband's favorites which is saying alot because he only likes a couple of cakes.

I'd like to try this recipe!

[Jen]

I know it's hard to get excited when it's still basically summer where you are. Here in California we finally got our record breaking temps of 108 yesterday!

[Polly]

YUMMO, Carrie! Carrot cake is a fav of my family! Thanks for sharing! Polly

[Cheryl Miller]

My husband always wants carrot cake for his birthday too. And will the heat please let up!

[Robin Crittenden]

the carrot cake recipe sounds really good. can't wait to try it.

[Pat Sloan]

How did you KNOW I love Carrot cake!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it took me YEARS to try it.. No McCoy to swat me!

[Hazle]

Carrot cake? Omnomnomnom! If I hadn't promised to make double chocolate mint muffins for a birthday tomorrow, I'd be making your family carrot cake. Pass a cloth to wipe the keyboard! ;-) Thank you for sharing!
Hazle

[linda]

LOOOOOVE CARROT CAKE..ESPECIALLY THE CREAM CHEESE ICING..

[Erika]

Life gets crazy sometimes, I love carrot cake and I think I will make some tonight

[sherri]

Can't wait to try this recipe...I sure am collecting some great ones today! And I can definitely make carrot cake any time...even if it is 105 today!

[Nancy]

OH!!! Carrot cake is a personal favorite of both my hubby and me. That picture is pure torture Carrie...we are on 'heart healthy food' and we already had our treat meals this month! *sigh* The cake will have to wait a week or two, but it does look scrumptious. Hugs...

[SuzK]

I'm definitely going to have to try this recipe. My son's birthday is in November and carrot cake is his birthday cake of choice. I usually end up getting it at a bakery nearby, but I'm going to try this and see if I can beat out the bakery!

[Jackie]

Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is the best.

[dawn]

Happy Birthday! Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is great any time of year! YUM!

[Cindy Carlson]

I HEART Carrot Cake. And with Cheese frosting.....tummy delight indeed!!!

Happy Fall.

[Lee Ann L.]

Carrot cake is my husband's favorite. He likes it best with Cream Cheese frosting. :-)

[Sandie ~call me crazy]

MMmmm I love carrot cake! :-)

[Mary on Lake Pulaski]

Yes, Carrot Cake! Get ready for a great birthday!

[Penny]

Carrot cake is a favourite at our house too. Will definately try your recipe. Oh, the cream cheese frosting adds that final yummy touch. Carrie, are you leaving all the news of your trip to the "girls". What is filtering through looks like one great trip.

[Mary]

Yummy! Cake with vegetables and fruit too--there's dairy in that cream cheese--this almost qualifies as all food groups! Yes! put those walnuts on top, they are good for you and I think they have a little protein in them.

[Lovie Ball]

Love carrot cake without frosting. I dust with powder sugar or make a glaze.
In my family for birthdays we got our favorite meal. For me that meant - Fried chicken, cauliflower and cheese, and carrot cake or red velvet cake. So a carrot cake brings back good memories.

[Carol Sc]

I remember that "ewww" comment on carrot cake --- and,now, as I have "matured", it is one of my favorites. I wonder what other tastes I have missed?!

[Vivian]

I love carrot cake. In fact, I had some today at my workshop but I have never made it. Thanks for the recipe. Did the top picture have chocolate chips in it?

[Marcia W.]

xI once lived in Arizona and understand what you mean about Fall. My family also has many Fall birthdays (BTW my uncle and late father's birthday is today). While I love chocolate birthday cakes, my SIL makes me carrot cakes that are wonderful. When was younger, halloween cakes usually ended up as my birthday cake. Thanks for the taste of fall.

[www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawnxHP2kbB_LZYm01LsKFONoBKoD_oKk_ZU]

Thanks for the recipe! Seems like the time of year for baking. Kim

[Bonnie Nyquist]

I am a carrot cake lover!!! So this is right up my alley!!! Thank you for posting the recipe. Loving the Blog Hop! Bonnie Nyquist bonniesline at aol dot com

[Louise K.]

I love carrot cake. Thank you for sharing your family recipe.

[Leslie Schmidt]

Carrot cake is so good, and you can rationalize that it must be good for you with fruit AND vegies in it! The recipe looks very good. Another one I shouldn't eat, but probably will.

[Bobbi Delsing]

Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Was my hubbies favorite. Will have to make it is his honor!...and eat it , of course!

[Beth Bush]

Thank you for carrot cake recipe!!!

[madame samm]

I cannot say I disagree with you Carrie..carrot cake is also this french family's favourite. Always will be...we even soak our raisins now in coffee, to give our cake an even more moist texture...and can we talk about mouthfeel? lol
I making it today for a retreat tomorrow...so off I go..thanks for the smiles ...blessings msamm

[Paula Johnson]

I dont know anyone that doesnt like carrot cake. Its part of the season.lol.

[Sally Baumeister]

I love fall and have enjoyed the freebie designs you Galfriends have been giving these last days.