Mums Carrot Cake
This is a much loved recipe that came from my Mum.
Our daughters friends use to raid her lunch box at school to see if she had any in it. So I am guessing it was a treat for them. Liz and Sarah this is the recipe it is not hard to make so would love to see a pic when you make it.

2 cups grated carrot
3 eggs
1 1/3 cups SR Flour
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1 cup Pecan pieces
2/3 cup Canola Oil
1 tsp Bi Carb Soda
1 cup castor Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Esc
1 tsp Cinnamon

Grate carrots. Put eggs, sugar oil and vanilla into a bowl and mix add the grated carrots and the walnuts, add sifted four, bi-carb and spices and mix lightly.
Place into a greased and cake pan.
Bake in a moderate oven for 35 - 45 mins. Remove from oven and allow to cool in tin for 5 mins then take out of tin and cool on a wire rack.

PS. I always double this mix and use a 24cm square pan. My cooking time then becomes 1hr and approx 15 mins but i check it with a skewer to make sure it is ready. I also turn the cake tin at intervals to make sure it cooks evenly.

Lemon frosting:
50g Philly cheese
2 tbso softened butter
1 tbsp Lemon Juice
2 cups of sifted icing sugar

Combine all ingredients and mix until smooth and creamy.
spread on cake and decorate with chopped pecans.

This one always goes well if you are going out and need to take a plate, usually wont get to take any home.

Mini Quiches
These are little fiddley but are great and perfect for when you are not very hungry.Or for brunch.

Pastry Sheets (from one sheet I get 9 x 75mm circles)
(use a glass and turn it on the pastry sheet to cut out a circle)
Place circles in a greased patty cake baking tray. My baking tray has 12 positions for circles.

2 shallots chopped
1 leaf of spinach chopped and cooked and drained
8 cherry tomatoes chopped in 1/4's
1 lge rasher of bacon chopped up small
1 egg and 1tbsp milk mixed together
grated cheese
Herbs can be added, I used Oregano and mint

Spray frypan and add shallots, spinach, tomatoes and bacon and gently fry for a few mins.
allow to cool a little then add approx 1 desertspoon to each circle in the baking tray.
Then carefully pour 1 desertspoon of the egg and milk mix over each quiche not overflowing them.
put some grated cheese on top of each one and bake at 200C for approx 15mins until cheese is golden.
Remove from oven and allow to cool a little in tray they use a knife to loosen and lift them out.

No folks I have not forgotten you! I have been busy making biscuits, rum balls and marshmallow balls to give as gifts to our favourite customers. You see I find so many people do not get to appreciate homemade any more, so these are the sorts of gifts I give to friends and this year customers. So I buy a useful storage container and fill it with homemade goodies and give. It then serves 2 purposes, They get a feed of yummy food and also have a container for storing stuff. I have never had anyone not appreciate it. So have a think and see if you can do something similar. It is far more practical and less expensive and really less work than going out shopping and trying to find something. Oh I have been experimenting with some quiches so will make them again and get pics taken to post.

Deb