There is a little boy in Dubai who this week turned one. His name is Yousif and I have never met him. I know his mum though Hala and his dad Taher and his big sister Alana! Alana is my daughter’s first friend and his mum used to be my ”village”. You know when new mums (and old) need a ”village” around them to raise their children, their support circle? Well his mummy used to be that for me when I was a new mum and had just moved to Abu Dhabi. We moved to Abu Dhabi when my daughter Nektaria was 4 months old and out of pure luck our families met and spent two fantastic years together. We were both new mums, away from home without much support from anywhere else.
I was reading somewhere that when you are older you don’t really make new friends so obviously I am going to disagree. Yes, friends from school are a blessing in someone’s life but I have found that friends you make during those early days of motherhood are equally important and real. I guess a strong bond is created when you are sharing stories over dirty nappies, sleepless nights and breastfeeding. Our little girls bonded too so much that my heart was shattered when we had to move away. Here’s hoping that one day we will all pick up from where we left it.
For now, Happy Birthday little Yousif! I am sorry I can’t be there to bake your first birthday cake like I did with your sister but I am sending you some virtual love and some Peter Rabbit carrot cake cupcakes!
Right,let’s get baking my darlings!
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups shredded carrot
1 tsp baking soda
1tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2/3 oil
50 gr sultanas
For the cream cheese frosting
115 gr cream cheese
some vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups icing sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 200C/350F/Gas 4 and line two 12-hole muffin tins with paper cases.
Step 2
In a bowl, add the oil and sugar. Whisk to mix and then add the 2 eggs whisking some more for all ingredients to be incorporated. Add the cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Mix together.
Step 3
In the same bowl, add the dry ingredients. Whisk together and finally add the shredded carrots and sultanas.
Step 4
Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until they are half full.
Step 5
Bake for 30 minutes or until nicely golden, remove from the oven and let them cool.
Step 6
For the cream cheese buttercream: In a mixer bowl, beat the butter with the paddle attachment for 5 minutes. Add the cream cheese, vanilla and salt. Mix for 2 minutes. Then, add the icing sugar one cup at a time. Beat for 5 more minutes to achieve a nice fluffy buttercream. Decorate the cupcakes as desired.
Enjoy!
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