Cardamom and Pistachio Carrot Cake

one way to make a carrot cake:

Cardamom and Pistachio Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

vegetable oil

3 eggs

3 carrots, big boys about 2 1/2 cups

2 sticks of butter, about one cup

1 cup pistachios

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 sugar

1 3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 baking soda

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp cardamom

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 cups flour

Method:

preheat oven to 350

oil up ya cake pan, i would def use some parchment

put yer 2 sticks of butter in a saucepan and place in pistachios.

cook till toasty, like 5 minutes

use a mesh seive to strain out the butter and nuts n shit

mix eggs, sugars, powder, soda, salt and spices in a bowl

slowly stream in butter

fold in flour

crush up nuts

grate carrots

mix in your nuts and carrots

put into your greased up cake pan and bake about 50 -55 minutes

SO DIG ME: Yo, that cardamom is SUPER spiced.  Like, I had never really cooked with it before and it was simply all my husband and myself could taste.  I would decrease the amount of cardamom by at least one 1/2 tsp.  

The fancy recipe I got this from called for a carrot juice infused icing, aint nobody got time for that, to use an antiquated parlance, and so I simply made some buttercream, and dyed it orange, garnished with fresh, whole pistachios.

It was VERY dense. I believe that I overmixed/worked the dough before I added the carrots and nuts.  So, take it easy . 

I have to say though, of all the Easters I've had and hosted, this one was by far my favorite.  No moms, no uncles, no cousins, no fathers, just me and my husband and my babies.  Fucking perfect.  I didn't have to double check with my mom and MIL as to who was making what.  Or listen to them each tell me how I shouldn't be making food because I have so much to do already, and yada yada yada.  Instead I was able to wake up, have Easter with my girls, make bunny pancakes, have an easter egg hunt, pop in a turkey breast (my husband hates ham, whatever Ryan), set a table for 4, instead of 12, and serve my little family.  Clean up was a breeze.  

There was no anxiety at all, the whole day was a joy.  I'll always treasure this quaratine memory, a day where I was in charge of an event from start to finish.  No fretting over which serving dish to use, or which plate setting represents which grandmother, no mom interupting me to inform me which guests still needs served a beverage, no waiting for my brothers to not show up, and feeling the disappoint of their lack of interest.  

T'was bliss to just be us.