Carrot Patches Recipes

CARROT PATTIES

Steps:

• In a medium size mixing bowl, combine the grated carrots, garlic, eggs, flour, bread crumbs, salt and black pepper; mix well.
• Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Make the mixture into patties, and fry until golden brown on each side.

CARROT PATCH CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line a 900g loaf tin with baking parchment. Whisk the oil, yogurt, eggs and vanilla in a jug. Mix the flour, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg with a good pinch of salt in a bowl. Squeeze any lumps of sugar through your fingers, shaking the bowl a few times to bring the lumps to the surface.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry, along with the carrots, raisins and half the pistachios. Mix well to combine, then scrape into the tin. Bake for 1 hr 10 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. If any wet mixture clings to the skewer, return to the oven for 5 mins, then check again. Leave to cool in the tin.
• To make the icing, beat the butter and sugar together until smooth. Add half the cream cheese and beat again, then add the rest (adding it bit by bit prevents the icing from splitting). Remove the cake from the tin and spread the icing thickly on top. Scatter with some of the remaining pistachios. Dye the fondant or marzipan orange by kneading in a drop of food colouring. Roll into little carrot shapes, then use a skewer to make indentations and poke a few pistachios in to look like fronds. Top the cake with the carrots, then serve. Will keep in the fridge for up to five days (eat at room temperature).

CARROT PATCH CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. Make cake mix as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Bake and cool as directed on box for cupcakes.
• With small knife, cut cone shape out of center of each cupcake; discard center. Frost cupcakes with chocolate frosting, leaving cutout centers unfrosted. Sprinkle cookie crumbs on large plate. Carefully dip cupcake tops in crumbs to look like dirt.
• In small bowl, mix cream cheese frosting and food color until well blended. Spoon into resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag. Cut off small corner of bag. Twist bag above frosting; squeeze bag to pipe frosting into cutout center of each cupcake. Insert 3 sour straw pieces into orange frosting to look like carrot tops.

CARROT PATCH COOKIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat pudding mix and milk with whisk 2 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir in whipped topping and 1/4 cup of the cookie crumbs.
• Spread pudding mixture evenly in bottom of 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish. Cover with remaining cookie crumbs. Refrigerate 1 hour to set.
• Meanwhile, heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir together cookie mix, butter, flour and egg until a dough forms. Add red and yellow gel food colors; stir until dough turns a bright orange color.
• With fingers, shape dough by rounded tablespoonfuls into small carrot shapes, about 2 inches long; place on ungreased cookie sheets. Repeat with remaining dough. Use sharp knife to make a few shallow lines across top of each cookie.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Cool completely.
• Place dab of white decorating icing on back of each cooled cookie. Break off pieces of edible Easter grass; attach a few pieces to icing on back of each cookie to look like green stem of carrot from front. Carefully place cookies upright in pudding mixture (you may not be able to fit all of the cookies). Serve immediately.

CARROT PATCHES

Steps:

• For each patch, spook about 3 tablespoons of hummus into each 3-ounce size plastic cup. (This can be done ahead of time before a party or taking as a classroom snack).
• Before serving, poke a hole in the top of each baby carrot with a toothpick and insert a sprig of parsley into each hole.
• Plant four carrots in each cup of hummus.
• Place cups in mini terra-cotta pots -- a great party favor to be taken home with a package of seeds.

CARROT PATTIES

Steps:

• Combine the carrot, celery, onion, bread crumbs, eggs, chervil, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Press about 1 1/2 tablespoons mixture between hands to form sixteen 2-inch patties, and place on a tray.
• Place a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Coat with nonstick cooking spray. Place 8 patties in the skillet, and cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a serving platter. Repeat with remaining patties. Serve each with a dollop of drained yogurt.