Things to do on a rainy day... Carrot cupcakes?

Of course, sleeping late on a rainy autumn morning is an option when you are retired: IF you don't have to walk the very large dog, that is...  Balou yawns very loudly and grumbles under her breath, when we dawdle.  She also shakes her head and flaps her ears, until you yell at her to cut it out. (then she yawns loudly again and starts to "lick-slurp-smack, lick-slurp-smack" her front paws with concentration and a certain echoing in the hall, until she feels she's made her point or you've come into the hallway and snarled, "STOP that!".)

We are slaves to that animal, and she totally knows it!

So.  This was inspired today, by Cheryl of Rice, beans & pastichio..., who sent me a cute little "cupcake heart" (in that cheerful, charming way of hers) first thing this morning on Facebook.  I'd been thinking about making some cupcakes for a few days.

First I assembled the ingredients:

My Carrot Cake Cupcakes
which I am guessing could be everyones?

3 or 4 eggs
1 C sugar

1 C oil

 
2 C flour
2 t baking soda
1 t salt
1 t cinnamon

2 C grated carrots
1 C grated apple
1/2 lemon
1/2 C (ish) pecans chopped
1 C raisins

pre-heat oven to 350F/180C.

Beat the oil (I used sunflower) and sugar together [careful it splashes] for about 2 minutes, add the eggs one at a time.  I used 4 eggs because they were pretty small eggs.

Sift the flour salt and cinnamon together and add to the liquid ingredients.

Stir in carrots, apple, pecans, and raisins.  (I used a large granny smith apple cored and cut up and pulsed it in a food processor til it was chopped but not mush.  I leave the skin on cause we like the texture and the flavor.  I used the juice of half the lemon on top of the apple and the carrot to keep them from turning color, and also for the flavor)

Then filled the little paper cupcake holders - I got the idea of using an ice cream scoop to fill the cups from watching the Barefoot Contessa's cooking program!

I baked them for 20 minutes in my fan assisted-oven.

Then cooled them on a wire rack.



I had some lemon buttercream (with cream cheese) frosting left over, a few orange and yellow sprinkles for the season and ta-da...



I would share them with you if I could figure out how to get them inside the laptop!!!!