Food Focus: Carrots
Carrots are known as the vegetable that is easy to grow, tasty and high nutrition. Both children and adults like carrots because of its sweet taste and crunchy texture. Carrot (Daucus carota) is available year-round in North America and are grown in mountain areas that have cold temperatures and moist, approximately in height of 1200 meters above sea level.
There are over 100 different varieties of carrots throughout the world that vary in size (from two inches to three feet) and colors (orange, purple, yellow and white.
Recipe of the Month: Carrot Cake
3 cups grated carrots
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
3/4 cup chopped pecans
3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 (8 ounce) package Cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch pan. In a large bowl, combine grated carrots, flour, white sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir in eggs, oil, 1 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, pineapple and 3/4 cup chopped pecans. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool. To Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine confectioners’ sugar, Cream cheese, 1/2 cup butter or margarine and 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla. Beat until smooth, then stir in 1 cup chopped pecans. Spread on cooled cake.
Food Facts:
Apart from that, carrots are also good sources of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin K, biotin, fiber, potassium and thiamine. Here are 7 health benefits of carrots for human body:
• Prevent Cancer
• Improve Vision
• Prevent heart disease
• Reduce the risk of stroke
• Nourish Skin
• Anti-aging
• Dental Health
