An Easter Enlightenment: Desserts and Details

The real significance of Easter is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To Christians, it is the most important day of the year. Of course, the birth of Christ is very significant. Yet, his resurrection offers the hope of everlasting life to everybody! The Lent season leading to Easter Sunday is a period of fasting, penance, and prayer. It is the Christian manner of replicating in a way as to what Christ sacrificed for us, both in his fasting and his death on the cross, the entire basis on which Christianity is rooted.

The “Passion of Christ,” as we know it, is this succession of events. Following Easter with the Holy Week, which is the Maundy Thursday, the celebration of Jesus’ Last Supper with his 12 Apostles, Good Friday on which Jesus’ crucifixion is observed, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday commemorating the resurrection of Christ on the third day. Most holidays have some association with the changing of seasons. This is particularly true for Easter, which falls in closeness to another key point in the solar year when there are equivalent times of light and dark. Spring likewise implies the returning to the life of plants and trees that have been dormant for winter. Given the imagery of new life and resurrection, it was only fair to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus during this time of the year

Customary family celebrations vary from country to country. The celebration of Easter in India is done with elaborate arrangements. Despite the fact that people do not decorate Easter eggs in India, they are very much aware of the oldest tradition of Easter, which again symbolizes new life and consequently make it a point to buy delightfully crafted Easter eggs from the stores and give them as presents for their kids. John Kanell, a culinary expert says “Growing up, pastries were consistently the feature of Easter, with my mom and grandma making brilliant carrot cakes without any preparation.” That said, the favourite dessert on Easter Day is Carrot Cake. Carrot cake has been an Easter staple for quite a long time, so why not serve some of this well-known dessert this Easter? So here’s what you are looking for...

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup oil

• 2 cups white sugar

• 3 eggs, beaten well

• 2 cups carrots, peeled and grated fine

• 2 teaspoons vanilla

• 3 cups flour (can use one of the three cups with whole wheat flour for a denser, nuttier taste)

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 cup chopped Nuts of your taste (can use dry fruits too)

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1 lb 4 cups powdered sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix oil, sugar, eggs, carrots, pineapple and vanilla until combined.

3. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl and add slowly to the wet ingredients.

4. To make a 9x13 cake, pour into a greased 9x13 baking dish for 45 minutes.

5. To make a 2-layer cake, use 2 round pans and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. If using 2 round pans, make sure to really grease or use parchment cut in circles so that your cake comes out clean. Invert cakes into a cooling rack.

6. When the cake has cooled, frost it with cream cheese frosting.

7. For the Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and then powdered sugar one cup at a time, scraping the bowl often. Frost the carrot cake.

With Easter arriving on International Carrot Day, April 4, it would be wrong if we didn’t share with you the recipe of this mouth-watering dessert. More will never be enough when it comes to carrot cakes. Just as it is with our Milky Mist Cream Cheese that lets you indulge in some softness and creaminess made from a healthy dose of milk and cream. Not only are they the ideal sources of calcium and protein, but they also ensure quality.