יוצא מן הכלל

My dad doesn't usually say much when it comes to my cooking. It is not that he doesn't like it, but it takes something to be really good for him to say something -- and usually it's in superlatives, and yes, expletives. So, basically, he doesn't bullshit. If something is good or OK, he doesn't say anything. If something is out of this world, then, yes, my father will say so.

He called me today (another odd occurrence for my dad - he never calls me!) and told me that my carrot cake from yesterday יוצא מן הכלל. That means, in Hebrew, that it is outstanding, better than the usual thing, exceptional. I know I'm too old to think this, but it really gives me so much confidence when my parents like something I have made.

The best part of this carrot cake, though, is that it is virtually guilt-free. My friend Maria posted this recipe on Nigella.com, and there was to be only 1 teaspoon of oil found in the entire cake. And since I halved the recipe, there was only 1/2 teaspoon of vegetable oil in the about 12 slices. Capital!

I've posted the recipe here below. Hope Maria doesn't mind. I wanted to spread the word that this cake is AWESOME; delicious, moist, wonderful. And even my parents, who in their weird Russian way detest cinnamon, loved this cake.

Hope those who make it enjoy it as much as we all did.

Maria's יוצא מן הכלל carrot cake

Ingredients:

2 large eggs

180 grams sugar

1 tsp veg. oil

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp ground cinnamon

130 grams flour

300 grams grated carrots
Decoration: icing sugar for dusting

Method:

Whip eggs and sugar until light and pale. Stir in the oil and the vanilla. Sift the dry ingredients and fold in, careful not to over-mix. Finally, stir in the grated carrots. Put the batter into a lined springform tin, 22 cm (9 inche) diameter*. Cook for 40 mins in a 175 C (350 F) oven. Let the cake cool in the oven before turning out. Dust some icing sugar over the cake, and serve with some yoghurt, if you like. This cake keeps well for a few days if it is well wrapped in cling film/plastic.

*If you halve the recipe, this mixture fits perfectly into a 20 cm (8 inch) sandwich tin.