Light & Fluffy Carrot Cake

It's been a tiring week, what with a birthday, a sick and very demanding toddler, a dinner party and so very little time for self.

My little boy is into some serious growth pangs and is so horribly fussy with his food. When you do not get enough sleep at night it really is difficult to be chirpy and inventive in the kitchen. Today though, i was on a mission to bake something nice and rich for my toddler, and if need be tie him up and force feed ;). 

But before i get to the cake, lemme me tell you that i have one amazingly romantic husband :), he sent me this beauty....

......and lite-up my very tired body, mind and soul. I love Red Carnations, in fact much more than roses and was ecstatic when it was delivered. The delivery guy btw assumed it to be for a birthday occasion and pasted a birthday greeting ka note and so hubby and i had a good laugh....not to miss the smiley in the U ;). 

Little gestures of love really does make all the difference to an otherwise mundane life :).

Now back to the SUPER lite and fluffy cake. The few times i made carrot cake, it turned out a tad too dense and so i'd been reading up to get a fluffier cake and the result is this cake.

You can literally see the grated carrot strands...it is absolutely the best carrot cake I've had by far. Here's the recipe.

Ingredients:

 1 Cup - All Purpose Flour

1/2 Cup - Sugar

1/3 Cup - Mayonnaise

1/4 Cup - Veg' Oil

1 Tsp - Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp - Baking Soda

1 Tsp - Ground Cinnamon

1 Cup - Carrot, Shredded Fine

1/4 Cup + 2 Tbsp - 2 Slices of Pineapple to make 1/4 Cup Juice + 2 Tbsp Pineapple Syrup

1 - Egg

Salt - A pinch

Method:

1. Preheat oven @ 180 degree centigrade, grease a baking pan and keep aside
2. Sieve together flour, baking powder and soda, cinnamon and salt in a bowl
3. Combine the mayo, pineapple slices plus 2 Tbsp syrup, sugar and egg in a grinder and beat till well combined
4. Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and mix till well combined
5. Fold in the grated carrot and pour batter into the greased pan
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 22 - 24 minutes or until done

On a day like today, when the day is cloudy and dull...the heat from the cinnamon brings a dash of refreshing warmth and to see the little one enjoying his bit of cake as much as the mommy enjoyed baking it for him makes this day...one happy day :).