Winter Weariness

You gotta love a Minnesotan who shows grit and determination to grill despite the weather.  

I follow Audrey Helbling's blog from Fairbault, MN titled Minnesota Prairie Roots  In 2017 she posted this photo above in her blog showing her husband Randy, grilling Minnesota style. It was mid March where neither rain nor snow slowed down her husband's cooking.  
https://mnprairieroots.com/2017/03/12/in-minnesota-neither-rain-nor-snow-or/

Fast forward to 2019 same time in March where massive snow piles did slow him down a bit as he made his way shoveling a path toward the grill. 
Check out how much higher the snow is near grill and fence this year. 

 Minnesota like much of the US is winter weary ready for spring's arrival March 20th. 

Today I am celebrating my mom's birthday. She would have been 96. And what coincidence both moms share the same birthday. My mother- in- law would  have 113 today!

She loved the color dusty rose and owned many knick knack type treasures with rose motifs. Sweets were her big thing from Dove bars to French Silk Pie to carrot cake and everything in between. The mystery was how she kept her weight at a mere 80 lbs.  






Carrot Cake (one of her favorite sweets)
Cook's notes: This is a very moist cake. Adding in whole wheat flour for a healthier option  gives the cake a nice texture.
Ingredients:

• 4 large eggs beaten
• 2 tsp. soda
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1-cup brown sugar
• 2 TB. cinnamon
• 1-1/3 cup oil
• 1 cup crushed pineapple –drained
• 1-3/4-2 cups grated carrots (use food processor)
• 1-1/2 crushed nuts
• 1 cup white flour
• 1-cup whole wheat flour
• Optional ½ cup toasted coconut

Directions:

• Grease a 13 x 9 baking dish. 
• Beat eggs and add in rest of ingredients. Mix well about 2 minutes
• Bake @350 for 30 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 TB. vanilla
• 1- 3-oz. package softened cream cheese
• Add milk as needed to get right consistency
• Sprinkle crushed nuts on top
• Frost and refrigerate
• Take out of refrigerator about ½ hour before serving