Carrots and parsnips!

With the autumn definitely here, we're into root vegetables in a big way! If you get bored with cooking them in savoury dishes, try these:

Carrot Cake

250g plain flour
150g whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
4 egg whites
225g brown sugar
225g plain or vanilla yogurt
50ml rapeseed oil
350g grated carrots
225g drained canned crushed pineapple
150g raisins

Frosting
225g cream cheese, at room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract
500g icing sugar

To make the cake:
1. Preheat the oven to 160°C. Grease a 13”x9” baking dish.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the plain flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Mix well.
3. In a large bowl, combine the eggs and egg whites. Using an electric mixer beat on medium speed until foamy. Add the brown sugar. Beat for 3 minutes. Add the yogurt and oil. Beat until creamy.
4. On low speed, beat the flour mixture into the egg mixture until combined. Fold in the carrots, pineapple, and raisins. Spoon into the prepared baking dish and bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely.
5. To make the icing, combine the cream cheese, vanilla extract, and sugar until smooth. Spread on cooled cake.


Parsnip and Walnut Cake

Serves 8
125ml vegetable oil
125g light brown sugar
175g chopped nuts
350g grated parsnip
225g plain flour sieved
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
4 Eggs

1. Preheat oven to 180°C and grease and line a deep 20cm cake tin.
2. In a large bowl combine the oil and sugar to form a smooth mixture.
3. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the bowl and beat in each egg thoroughly.
4. Stir in grated parsnips and chopped walnuts and spoon the mixture into the prepared tin.
5. Place the cake tin in the centre of the oven for 70 mins. Allow to cool, serve and enjoy.
6. Alternately, you can ice with plain, lemon, or cream cheese icing.