I spent some time with my mother’s recipe book yesterday, 
which looks suspicously like my own.
I thought I might try her custard recipe, (eggs you see!) but I understand now why she always ended up making it from the Edmonds Instant Custard packet. I cannot work out her recipe for Elaine’s custard either. 
I decided to make carrot cake instead from Deb’s recipe book. I have been after this recipe for years and Deb had to go back to an old friends to finally find it for us. And her daughter kindly copied it from Debs recipe book while I was visiting. 
So I shall share this with you.
Louisa’s Carrot Cake
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 4 eggs
- 1 small tin crushed pineapple
- 2 small cups sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup grapeseed oil (or sunflower)
- 2 cups grated carrots
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 scant tsp salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Mix everything together. (typical NZ method) Bake at 180 (350F) for 40 – 60 minutes.
Cream Cheese Icing (Frosting)
- 125g cream cheese (1/2 small carton)
- 60g butter (1/2 US stick)
- 2tsp grated orange rind
- 1/2 cup icing sugar
I have to admit that the icing is my favourite part of this cake. Store in the fridge.
Earlier I had made some Home-made fresh cheese and on the wood stove was onion jam. Chopped onions caramelised with red wine, balsamic, brandy and 1 heaped teaspoon of brown sugar.
So we had a very tasty afternoon.
There now. Thats enough cooking for one day. 
The Daily View. 
Good morning. We are still below freezing -yes I have put sand on the steps and my long silk drawers should be arriving this week. It is 14F (-10C) this morning but there is a rumour that the weather will warm up this coming week, just a little would be nice, though so far this winter has been mild and we can’t complain really.
I keep meaning to say that I still visit the Old Codger twice a week and he sends his love. He is doing very well.
Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
73 responses to “Onion Jam and Carrot Cake”
Deeee-licious!
Oh how I miss cream cheese frosting! I’ve tried two or three imitation non-dairy “cream cheeses”…and let me just say, yuck. They’ve all ended up in the garbage. The closest I can come is canned cream cheese frosting that really isn’t cream cheese at all and the rule of thumb is not to look at all of the bad stuff that’s in the ingredients list. Ha!
I LOVE the porch picture with Kupa and the kitty on the table. Gorgeous!
I would love to sit down with your mother’s recipes and a nice cup of tea… I imagine it would be a window into your life and that things that are important to you…. I love old recipe collections so much!
Oh you did have a delicious day! The carrot cake looks and sounds fabulous! It’s one of my favorites and with cream cheese frosting…yum!
surely everyone would like to come for coffee.. me too 😉
Your mum’s recipe book reminds me of my mum’s 🙂
I love carrot cake but without the frosting..I know..I know..I am messing the best part 🙂
I look forward to trying this recipe. If it is something you were looking for, then it must be special
When I saw the first shot of your mom’s recipe book and before I scrolled down, I thought…that looks like mine! Love the little peaks in the frosting on your pretty carrot cake. And onion jam and homemade cheese, too? Sounds like a truly delicious afternoon…wish I could have stopped by. I can’t tell if the cat is admiring the peacock or vice versa. 🙂
There are beautifully photographed cookbooks. Cookbooks with slick covers and shiny pages. Cookbooks that promise to make you a star in the kitchen. They all have something in common. They are soulless. I see your cookbook. I want to hold it. Caress the pages. Decipher the scribbles. Hold the memories. These are truly the cookbooks to treasure Celi. Happy thoughts for the coming week and the warm silk underwear. V.
My warm underwear just arrived, so that will make all the difference! morning V.. c
Those handmade type of recipe books are the best tested and best tasting!
This has gone to the save file… I love carrot cake….
I don’t have a very sweet tooth but I’d like to try that 😉
It’s good to hear that the Old Codger is well too!
Sounds Delicious! I love how your animals claim the porch as their own – ha! Happy Monday:)
Mmmmmm…… lovely day, lovely food, perfect. Glad you mentioned the Old Codger, Celi, I too wondered about him.
he is a box of birds, another good thing about the mild winter.. c
I’m such a horrible cook…I measure with my hand and my eye and my fingers. Drives my math teacher daughter nuts. I’ve tried the other way and it seems so bland…give me daring I guess.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
{{laughter!!}} c
My mother’s cookbook looks just like that! She used to make a fine egg custard, but her bread-and-butter custard was the best of all. Glad to hear of the old codger. I still remember your phrase, ‘Everyone needs an old person.’ It goes with me in my handbag each day, along with my keys, purse, and other essentials.
I bet you have a few that see that handbag on their kitchen tables too! c