l. Cakes

CARROT CUPCAKES

Ingredients  cupcakes

1 1/2 cups carrot (grated), 1 cup flour,3/4 cup sugar,1/3 cup oil,1/4 cup plain, Greek yogurt,2 eggs, beaten,2 tablespoons buttermilk,1 teaspoon baking soda,1/2 teaspoon baking powder,1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract,1/2 teaspoon salt,1 pinch ground ginger

Ingredients frosting

4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature, 4 tablespoons butter, 2-2 1/2 cups powdered sugar,1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350º F and line your muffin tin with cupcake liners. In a large bowl, sift together your flour, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, powder and salt. In a separate bowl, combine grated carrots, oil, buttermilk, vanilla and yogurt. Mix well. Slowly add your flour mixture to the wet ingredients, then add the beaten eggs. Stir until everything is well incorporated, but don’t over mix. Using a spoon or ice cream scooper, pour batter into muffin tins, about 2/3-3/4 full. Place in oven and bake for 13-15 minutes, or until golden brown and springy to the touch. Toothpick inserted in center should come out clean. Remove from oven and let cool. For the frosting, combine cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract and sugar, one cup at a time, until desired consistency is reached. For a thicker frosting, add a little more powdered sugar .Transfer frosting to piping bag (or Ziploc bag with the corner cut off), frost cupcakes and enjoy!

MY SIMPLE CRANBERRY APPLE PIE

 Ingredients for the crust

1 1/4 cups organic whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt

Ingredients for the filling

3/4 cup granulated white sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 cup all natural unsweetened yogurt, 2 eggs
2 cups Granny Smith, or any tart apple, diced small with the skin on, 1/3 cup fresh/frozen cranberries.

Ingredients for the topping.

1/4 cup brown sugar,1/4 cup butter, chilled, 1/4 cup organic whole wheat flour

How to prepare?

Preheat the oven to 175 degree Celsius or 350 degree Fahrenheit.

Combine all the ingredients  of the crust into a medium mixing bowl. Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the dry ingredients unto fine crumbles are formed. Press this mixture into a 9 inch spring form pan. Set aside.

Combine all the ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Pour the filling over the press in pie crust and use a spatula to smooth out the top. Prepare the topping.

Combine the three ingredients, using a fork, cut the butter into the flour and sugar until small pea shapes form. Sprinkle this mixture over the top of the pie. Bake in the oven for 1 hour. Before removing shaking the pan to make sure the center is set. Allow to cool before removing the spring form pan and serving.