How to Impress peers and adults.....most of all girls.

Some of the most important things in life is to have the respect of others and for others to like you. For me this was achieved through cooking and baking. The way to peoples hearts is always through amazing food. Food is a critical not only for survival but it is part of human interactions and socialization. No one like to eat by themselves, I for one, like to be around friend and family talking while enjoying food.  I am going to take advantage of this by using my skills and share it with others while gaining respect you deserve. So the other day I decided to make a Carrot cake and a Cream cheese frosting. I spent 45+ minutes online looking for recipes, reading reviews and comparing the ingredients to the everyone's recipes.  So instead of picking one I created my own and here is it.

 All the people that ate the cake said it was delicious and wanted me to make it for them whenever they needed a cake for their next party. 
Ladies if you like a man that knows how to cook you know how to reach me....

Jaren- LLT

Cake Ingredients:

2 Cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 Cups Sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar tightly packed

2 teaspoons baking soda

1teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon all spice

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

4 eggs

3 cups grated carrots

1 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup to 1/2 cup butter depending how much butter flavor you want

1 cup pecans (optional, but recommended) 

Frosting Ingredients:

2 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese at room temp

2 cups powdered sugar

1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, room temp

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1/2 cup pecans (optional)

Directions: 

 Before you get started add 1/4 cup sugar to the carrots and mix to coat all the carrots. Set aside so the carrots absorb the sugar. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  You will need 3 or 4, 9" inch round baking pans lined with parchment paper then greased and floured, or it will be very hard to remove the cake. In one bowl combine the dry ingredients, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg mixing them all together. In another bowl mix eggs, butter, sugar, brown sugar, and oil until thoroughly mixed. Slowly add the dry ingredients until it is all mixed. Then add the carrots mix until evenly dispersed. Finally fold in pecans.

Pour into the pans evenly and bake approx 40 min, checking at 30 minutes with a toothpick or knife. 

Remove then let cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:

Combine all ingredients except pecans in a mixer until smooth and creamy. You can adjust the taste by adding more powdered sugar (a little at a time) or vanilla if you want more of a vanilla taste.

Apply to the cake when completely cool, if not the frosting will melt and the cake layers will squeeze the frosting out.

This recipe can be used for cupcakes or baked in a sheet pan.

 This is a pix of mine. Hope everyone enjoys your cake as much as everyone enjoyed mine!

The Grass Isn't Always Greener on The Other Side: Appreciating What You Have

I recently decided to give up my video game habits and focus on reading and writing more. Back in grade school I used to read and write all of the time and I really enjoyed it. I figured its about time I get back to my roots and start doing things more fulfilling with my time. So here it is......my first blog!

I'm a huge fan of music. Its runs through my veins. Something about music just puts me at ease and can take me to another place, it's a powerful thing. The other day I was listening to Justin Bieber's (Yes, I'm a Bieber fan) new song  "As Long As You Love Me"  Ft Big Sean. If you haven't had a chance to hear the song you can listen to it here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AaQ5GG0qhM). As I was listening to the song Big Sean's verses really struck a chord with me. One in particular really got me thinking. "But, the grass ain't always greener on the other side, it's green where you water it". I'm sure you've heard the phrase that the "grass is greener on the other side" before but this Big Sean line put into a whole new context for me. "Its green where you water it".

A majority of life's simplest pleasures are taken for granted each day. I feel that living in today's society has created people to think that they need something new and better to make themselves happy.  A need for the "greener side of the grass". Whats so wrong with what we currently have? The other month my car broke down on me and I was furious. I instantly went out and started looking at new cars. I had no intention to fix the one I had. I wanted a new car. I had this vision that my life would be so much better with a new car instead of fixing the one that I own. But in reality, It would just be taking all of my money. Same thing happened to me when my home button wasn't working on my iPhone. I wanted to upgrade to a newer one, a 4S.  I had insurance to get my current phone fixed for free but I still wanted to get a newer one. Yet again, I wanted to spend money on a whole new phone. How did I become this person with a need for something newer, something better?

Most people don't know this but I used to live in a homeless shelter when I was growing up. My mother, my two brothers, sister, and myself all shared a family room. We struggled for the longest time and I didn't have a lot growing up by any means, but I had enough. I appreciated everything I had in my life and I told myself  that when I get older that I would always remember the little things. I've come a long way from the kid living in the homeless shelter, my whole family has. I've grown up. I've put myself through college, have my own place, a good job, and great lifelong friends. What more do I need? For the most part I've stayed close to my values but growing up in today's society seems to make people less appreciative for things that they do have. This new "norm" creates this constant need for more, for better. I think that's a good thing for the most part.  I think its important to have goals, dreams, and wants for yourself.  A "greener side" of life that you strive to someday have but we can't allow ourselves to forget about the little things along the way.  Like watering the grass that you currently have. Building your garden, instead of buying one.Our generation wants everything now.  If the browser takes forever to load on a website we immediately get frustrated and want a new computer with better internet. If the HD on the TV isn't working for the basketball game our entire day is ruined. I don't want to be that person. I want enjoy life and not have my happiness hinge on materialistic things. I think it's important to be patient, take time, and work hard for the things you want. Take time with everything in life, don't rush through it. So don't get me wrong, I still want a new car and I do still want a new phone. One day I will be on the greener side but for now I will appreciate the one that I have and continue to water it. And that's all I need and can ask for.

-Lewis LLT