Delicious Rustic Carrot and Walnut Cake (with Gluten free option)

Last week I made this delicious, moist and rustic carrot and walnut cake and I thought I would share it with you all. The recipe was adapted from a Donna Hay one and if you like really moist, rustic cakes, this is for you! Plus, it has carrot and walnuts in it, so that makes it healthy enough to afford second and third helpings, right?

Ingredients

♥ 1 1/14 cups brown sugar

♥ 3/4 cup vegetable oil

♥ 3 eggs

♥ 1 1/2 cups plain flour (GF plain flour works well in this recipe)

♥ 1/4 cup almond meal

♥ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

♥ 2 1/2 cups grated carrot (about 5 carrots)

♥ 1 cup chopped walnuts

Frosting

♥ 250g cream cheese, softened

♥ 1/2 cup icing sugar

♥ 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

Method

Preheat oven to 180°C. Place the sugar and oil in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for 2–3 minutes. Add the eggs gradually and beat well. Sift the flour and cinnamon over the wet mixture. Add the carrot and walnuts and mix until just combined. Pour into a greased 22cm-round cake tin lined with non-stick baking paper and bake for 55–60 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool in tin.

For the cream cheese frosting, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixture in a large bowl for 1-2 minutes. Add the icing sugar and lemon juice and beat until smooth. Spread frosting on the cooled cake and decorate with nuts and a sprinkling of cinnamon.

DIY Rustic Jewellery Hanger

So, I have been seeing these around  pinterest a lot lately...

Via

 

 

Via

 

 

 

...and with needing good display ideas for The Corner Store, I decided to give it a go!

You will need:

• Large wooden frame
• Chicken wire (I used 5mm bird cage wire, available from the hardware store)
• Sandpaper
• Spray primer (or cheap white spray paint)
• Your choice of colour spray paint
• Staple gun
• Pliers
• Sexy male helper *optional but highly recommended*

 

How to:

1. Remove the middle of the frame (glass, backing and picture if any) and sand back any varnish or paint.

2. Wipe your frame over with a clean, dry cloth to remove dust from sanding. Give it a coat of spray primer (or white paint) and leave to dry for one hour.

3. Once dry, paint your frame with the colour spray paint you chose (I did mine sky blue), then leave it to dry (again) for one hour.

4. Give your frame another coat of paint if needed, letting it dry once again, then use some soft-ish sandpaper to lightly rub back paint for a rustic or shabby chic look. How much you sand it back, or whether you do at all, is entirely up to you.

5. Once you have reached the desired effect with your frame, turn it over and place your chicken wire over the back. Put a brick on one side to stop it rolling up if you have to and hold the other over the edge of your frame, using it as a guide to cut chicken wire to fit the back. I'm too unco to hold the wire flat and cut it at the same time, so this is where having a sexy male helper comes in handy. I used this one:

 

6. Use the staple gun to attach the chicken wire to the back of your frame. Trim off excess wire and use pliers to bend back sharp bits and then you are done!

I know its not the easiest or quickest DIY project (or the safest either, for that matter. I cut myself on a piece of glass and stabbed myself numerous times with sharp wire) but I think it is well worth it! I love my frames. I'm going to donate one to the shop, keep one to use as a message/inspiration board in my sewing room/office and I may sell the rest (if anyone wants them!).

Ahh - bright, rustic DIY goodness!