The recipe that started it all...

A few years back (3 to be exact), our ward (congregation) was having a bake-off for an activity. Being one of the leaders for this group I figured I should submit a dessert. In true fashion, I decided to make a cake I'd never made before from scratch the day of. I can't remember how I picked carrot cake since I am not a big fan, but I got the recipe from my friend John Crapo.

The Best Carrot Cake Ever!

1 1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cup sugar
4 eggs
2 cup flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups grated carrots
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
John's note: The cake tastes great with or without nuts. The preferred nut to use would be walnuts. (I did not use any nuts)

Mix well the oil and sugar. Add eggs one at a time and beat well each egg into oil and sugar mixture. Sift the flour, b. powder, b. soda, cinnamon, and salt together. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Add the carrots, vanilla, and nuts and mix together. Pour the batter into a cake pan. Bake at 350° for 40 min. (When I've made it, it always takes longer.)

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup butter
1 8oz package of cream cheese
Almost 1 16oz package of powdered sugar

Beat butter, vanilla, and cream cheese together. Add the powdered sugar a little bit at a time mixing in to get a smooth texture. Continue adding sugar until desired consistency and taste.

Here is a plea from John regarding the recipe:
I also beg and plead that you not ruin the recipe by putting in pineapple or coconut, or some other fancy additive (not to say that you would). Many a good carrot cake has been ruined this way. Simplicity is often delicious! (No arguments here!)

Not really being a cream cheese frosting fan, I had a roommate at the time sample it to make sure it was edible. The cake turned out great! Darlene suggested I put some flowers from her garden on the cake to add a little color. I know I took pics of it, but do not know what happened to them. :( Needless to say, it was beautiful. I had flipped the cake out onto a flat baking sheet, covered it with frosting and added the flowers.

Does anyone remember who won this bake-off? I DID! I was amazed that my first time baking this cake won. It was at this time I thought I could have a knack for baking. By no means do all my first attempts at a new recipe turn out this well.