Recipe: Carrot-Walnut Loaf Cake

Carrot-Walnut Loaf Cake
Bon Appetit, May 2015, p. 20
5 stars

This recipe is from the r.s.v.p. section of Bon Appetit -- a reader requested the recipe from Breads Bakery in NY (I'm so glad he did!).  We had all the ingredients in the house, so I made this randomly one afternoon.  It's one of my favorite desserts I've made recently ~ I kind of feel healthy eating it since there are carrots in it.  Haha.

The sprinkle of brown sugar on top before baking is a nice touch.

Ingredients:  flour, carrots, golden raisins, walnuts, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, light brown sugar, baking powder, vegetable oil, Kosher salt

Tips:

• This made a loaf (8.5" x 4.5" pan) and 6 cupcakes
• Use more cinnamon next time
• Top with cream cheese frosting! Now it's really a cake.

Recipe: Coconut Rice Salad

Coconut Rice Salad
Food and Wine Magazine, March 2015, p. 60
3.5 stars

I wouldn't necessarily call this a 'salad.'  The recipe was ok -- we had to really "up" the flavor on it.  I'd make this again but increase the heat/add more spices.

Ingredients:  unsweetened coconut milk, jasmine rice, sugar, salt, chicken, Kirby cucumbers, scallions, canola oil

Tips:

• Used basmati rice instead of Jasmine rice
• Added Thai red curry paste to the chicken, but the chicken still needed more flavor even with that
• Added sriracha on top to add some heat
• Used extra-virgin olive oil instead of canola oil
• Cut the cucumbers at a diagonal or chop them vs. half moons next time