No flowers but carrot cake (with orange and almonds)

Valentine’s Day is in two weeks, but we are one step ahead.

You said no flowers

No flowers was said. If you love, gives carrots.
And almonds with infinite benefits – to put you at peace with the world.
And oranges, as powerful as the winter’s sun – a burst of optimism, that is the scent of life.

If you love, use your hands with your heart. If you love, bake this carrot cake with orange & almonds.
As in No Strings Attached… I’m talking about the scene when Ashton Kutcher gave to Natalie Portman a bunch of carrots, she didn’t want flowers. Beacause they were two quite messed up guys. In short, ends up as a Disney fairy tale, you knew it from the first scene. Goodbay tenderness, welcome the rude lovemaking. But happiness is only apparent: fragility, delusions, feelings of inadequacy and fear. Retrace your steps and reconsider, look through the other’s eyes. Rediscover and recognize.

And I can’t talk about love. But I’m sure that come back to love, as in a plot of a film as in the real life, is always the best choice.

CARROT CAKE WITH ORANGE AND ALMONDS – THE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS (serves 8)

• 300 gr of carrots
• 3 eggs
• 80 ml of extra virgin olive oil
• 100 gr of fresh orange juice
• The zest of one organic orange
• 180 gr of sugar
• 100 gr of almonds (peeled or not is the same)
• 250 gr of all purpose flour
• 20 gr of rice flour
• 16 gr of baking powder
• A pinch of salt
• A teaspoon of butter to grease the baking pan
• Powdered sugar and slivered almonds

While you’re tasting, listen: Junge Junge – Run Run Run ft. Kyle Pearce

PROCESS

1. Beat the eggs and sugar with a whisk for a minute, add a pinch of salt.
2. Mince the almonds finely with a blender and put them aside.
3. Wash and peel the carrots, chop up also these;
4. Add in the blender with carrots also the orange zest along with orange juice and olive oil. Mince again to melt together all the ingredients, you’ll see that the texture will become almost creamy.
5. Now put the carrots mixture in the eggs one and whisk again for a while.
6. Add also the almond flour, mix and, subsequently, add the rice flour, all purpose flour and baking powder.
7. When the dough is become smooth, line the bottom of a springform pan with parchment paper and grease the edges with butter. Pour the mixture and bake in preheated oven at 180° C for 40/45 minutes, check the baking with a toothpick.
8. Let the cake cool off, then dust the top with powdered sugar and an handful of slivered So, share the love.

Ph. Sara Cartelli
© The Eat Culture