Most of you already know this: I hate desserts. Really, I do. Not to say I don’t like baking them, or staring at them through the clear glasses in a bakery. Gleaming fruit tarts; tall, intricately-designed wedding cakes; adorable, pretty-in-pink cupcakes; dense and dark brownies. They’re lovely to look at, but not so much to eat.
First of all, well, they’re boring. They usually just have one dominant flavor: sweet. And second of all, they get cloying and sickening really fast.
Wouldn’t you say that’s the same for life? I used to dream of that perfect life: I’d be popular and smart in high school, graduate with honors and fabulous job offer from college (and find me a gorgeous boyfriend), get a fabulous career, be the life of parties, get rich, retire, spend the rest of my days in the Bahamas with a permanent suntan. But by now I’ve long since realized that life is just not about green meadows with lollipop flowers and cotton candy clouds.
Not only is a perfect life not possible, it is not…feasible. Seriously. Let’s pretend you got all you wanted in life. Then what? There’s nothing more to achieve, nothing more to fight for, nothing more to run towards. Life will then become a meaningless empty hole, where you just fall and fall and fall while getting fat sipping on martinis.
No. Give me the challenges in life. Give me trials to face, problems to solve, battles to fight. That way I won’t stay stagnant, but continue to grow and experience and learn. Life is not Candyland. I don’t want sweetness after sweetness, to the point that it just gets sickening and saccharine. Life is a battlefield. It’s tough and gritty and sometimes rather horrible, but exciting and thrilling and sensational at the same time.
I would like to say I’ve been through a lot, but I’m only 21 and there’s more shit ahead of me. Well, I’ve got my boots ready and my belt strapped tight, so bring it on.
So desserts? No thanks. I’d like a bit more interesting and savory substance in my dishes. Thus I introduce to you my own take on carrot cake (and life).
“Carrot Cake” Sandwich
- carrots, shaved (I didn’t have a vegetable peeler, so I had to shave it by hand with a fruit knife)
- 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 thick slices of cinnamon raisin bread
1. Get a nice thick slab of cinnamon raisin bread. This is the base, your foundation: your family, your values, your beliefs, your friends. 
2. Meanwhile, mix together the cream cheese, cinnamon, and honey. This is the tangy and sweet cream spread. It’s your daily life, your daily routine, your daily encounters. Sometimes it’s sweet, sometimes it’s tangy, sometimes it’s got a hint of spice, but altogether it sails through nice and smooth. 
3. And then pinch in the walnut pieces. These are the bumpy roads in life: crunchy, nutty, gritty, but altogether bearable. 
4. And then layer on the shaved carrots. Sprinkle with a bit of coarse kosher salt. These are the layers and layers of new experiences, new lessons, new relationships, new struggles you face each day. Take them with a grain of salt. With the right perspective, these add dimensions of wisdom and insight into your life. And the salt notches up flavor. 
5. And because life can get a bit hot (and because bread tastes so much better toased), toast them up on a skillet. They develop a nice crust on the bottom, a “know-how” into life as you weather with age. 
Now, for the finale: Bite in and savor! Or not. Ah, the woes of food blogging. My mouth was watering at that tantalizing aroma of the caramelized raisins and the warm cinnamon, but I had refrain myself to take a few quick shots… 
Okay, I know this is a far cry from real carrot cake. But it’s got all the components! The carrots, the raisins, the nuts, the cream cheese “frosting” and the spices! 
Freaking yum. Crunch, chew, creamy, all in one savory-sweet bite. This totally beats carrot cake, in my opinion. 
Won’t you try my carrot cake, the deconstr
ucted and savory version?
By the way, the bread I used was from Great Harvest, the freaking best bakery in the world : 
Notice that a little mouse nibbled on it last night (me).
Oh and did you know sometimes you get a little bonus is life too? Guess what popped up at my doorstep: 
The amazing giveaway I won from Lauren at Say What You Need to Say!!
Let’s see what I’ve got here: Puffins, Annie’s Mac & Cheese, Chocolate PB2, an August edition of Self, Kind bars, Fruit Leathers, Barney’s Butter packets, Trader Joe’s Bananas, Flattened, a Trader Joe’s bag, and a freaking sweet card!
I dug into the flattened bananas right away: 
Instant LOVE! I hate bananas in raw form, but I love them in these interesting ways, whether dried, or cooked. They were chewy, slightly sweet, and intense!
Thank you so much for the generous package, Lauren! (I went to Trader Joe’s right away today to use that bag but ended up forgetting it, but I will use it the next time I visit!)
Question of the day: Are you a sweet or savory or combo?
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Definitely savory person!
I agree with you that dessert are better to look at than eat!
And also like your perspective about life. For me it’s the same that perfect life is boring!
hehe love this! You are totally right about life. We always seem to want desperately something perfect. I wonder if its part of the black/white thinking of eating disorders? That if things aren’t perfect they just aren’t good period. Hmm. I’m willing to bet it is.
I think I’m a combination-fan. I like sweets, but I also really enjoy spicy food too (thus my insane addition of crushed red peppers, chili powder, cinnamon and hot sauce to any food I eat) So I like both, in their place. And occasionally together ( a la cocoa mole oat bran and chipotle hummus-apple sammies)
How inventive you are with food still astounds me BTW. I never have the patience or attention span to do so much prep and cooking unless I’m making food for someone else. I think its so awesome that you can just come up with new ideas and try them out. I really need to push myself to do that more often.
Take care,
Tori
That carrot cake sandwich looks divine! I am definitely more of a savory person, but a dessert done right can be just as beautiful and complex!
I love this dessert- so much fun! And hooray for the wins! I love those flattened nanas! TJs= genius. I like sweet just for fruits and savory for pretty much everything else
Lovely!
I’ll have to look for those bananas at TJ’s.
I’m not sweet and saccharin either, and I think I mean that in more ways than one…:) Give me more pasta or bread or whatever and keep the desserts!
However, I do like a little mini-chocolate or something (I have chocolate calcium chews) for after dinner “closure.” That’s enough for me.
And I want those funky banana things!
Aww, I love sweets! But that carrot cake sandwich looks reeeally good! And congrats on winning that giveaway, the Puffins are a-ma-zing!
I’m more of a savoury person, I usually crave carbs or salty products rather than sweer and sugary. Your carrot cake sandwich does look fabulous though
Wow, what a truly amazing idea on the carrot cake sandwich! That is so creative and must be delicious. I am totally going to make that for my neice & nephew next time I baby sit! Thank you!
oh i am defnitely a sweet.
although blogging has been helping me enjoy the combo more often than ever!
I can’t imagine not loving desserts. But everyone has a preference. Interesting take on carrot cake.
I’m gonna sound like a broken record, but I love the analogy. Cinnamon raisin toast! Yours looks waaaaaay better than mine
Your cream cheese recipe sounds very interesting.
As for what I prefer… I don’t mind either. But I don’t like very sweet things. For instance, when I go to Germany.. there’s just the right amount of sweetness and it lets other flavors shine through and come together. It’s not just BAM! SUGARRR!
p.s. Thanks for the recommendations. The Chelsea Market was definitely on my list of things to do after seeing your adventure!
http://www.ohonemorething.wordpress.com
Excellent post.
I also think that “carrot cake” sounds great!
Hmmmm, how about coming over to my house, and I’ll make you good dessert? Maybe it will change your mind, and you become at least “like” dessert. What do you thing dahling?
Anyway, your version of dessert sound good.
I love ‘carrot cake’ sandwiches. Never gets old for me
I do love dessert though. Not ALL desserts– sometimes they are definitely too “sickening sweet” to me. Just depends on the dish!
I like both savory and sweet— but definitely sweet for my oats!
Great post, great thoughts
Great post… I am digging the carrot cake sandwich – it’s such a great idea.
Don’t you just love TJ’s? What a fun package to receive.
I love both sweet and savory, equally. Although when I told my roommate this last year, she pointed out that my favorite veggies are sweet potatoes and winter squash, so maybe I actually tend toward the sweets more?
That carrot cake bread looks delicious! Carrot cake is my favorite because of the cream cheese frosting. I love how you connected each element of your sandwich to life! It is a very feng shui way of cooking.
that sandwich…
looks
like
bliss.
oh and you know i’ll be repin’ the sweets hard. cause this lady loves her dominant flavor to taste of sugar… there is no cure
you are officially a genius! that carrot cake sandwich has got me seriously droolin!
and your right — life isn’t always going to be “perfect” .. if it was, what fun would that be?!
Ok, I think we’re twins! I’ve never been a dessert, sweets, or chocolate fan. My birthday cakes were always fruity things like strawberry shortcake and Easter I’d get little toys in my basket since I never ate the candy. Even Halloween I’d simply trade or give my candy away to other family members. I’ve never liked chocolate and always have to force a smile when somebody makes a “women love chocolate joke” b/c I’ve never gotten it!
AND I also do not like regular bananas and everybody finds this so weird. I can eat them if they’re unripe with green still on the peel, but anything after that and it just makes me want to gag!
I agree, life would be boring with no challenges! And I think we appreciate the ups so much more when we’ve also had a few downs.
LOVE your carrot cake sandwich – you’re so creative, it looks fabulous!
that carrot cake sandwich looks better than any actual carrot cake i’ve ever seen. amazing! i’ve got to make something like that sometime! yum!
http://cardiovegsular.wordpress.com
I have to say, I do like my sweets. I wish i didn’t. This sandwich looks fab. I have an idea of recreating your carrot cake sandwich and turning it into a little tea sandwich for afternoon tea
. I’ll let you know 
. I hope you had a wonderful weekend!
This is by far the best post I have read!! I loved it! I love my life not being perfect…… the challenges that come up only make us a better and stronger person!
And I am seriously wanting that sandwich, trying that ASAP!
You have to do a post on your IKEA purchases that you get for your new apartment
What an incredible post, I love your analogy! And this savory carrot cake looks fabulous!
Carrot cake sandwich sounds great! So creative!
I love how you’ve made a regular cake so glamorous and healthy! All in a day’s work eh?
what an amazing and thought-provoking post!! the carrot cake sandwich looks delicious too- I ‘ll have to steal that idea. Love it!
once again I am in awe of your creativity – I salute you! Wow@
Mmm that sounds so good! YUM YUM!
<3 jess
xoxo
What a cute analogy! The sandwich looks delicious, too. I will definitely be trying that in the near future.
I read once that it is easier and more exciting getting to the top of the mountain because once you get there it is harder to stay on top…..my “words of wisdom” for the day!!! If that sandwich is not unique than I don’t know what is. Looks delicious…
I absolutely LOVE the carrot cake!! And real carrot cake is my favorite! That looks so good, I gotta make me some.
I’m a combo child – I have a massive sweet tooth but I love me some savory stuff.
That is a terrific idea. I’m not big on desserts either. But for me it’s because they look so good then I take a bite and it seems that my imagination created something much better than the real thing… always a disappointement. So now I don’t waste the empty calories.
Great blog!
I’m certain that someone has probably said it but you’re really wise beyond your years.
I do think that some people enjoy the challenge, thrive on it even. I have identical twin boys. One twin (the one that had medical issues early on) is like that. He doesn’t take the easy path and is a total type A. While the other twin is much easier going and has a hard time with things when they don’t come easy.
~ingrid
Duh, that sandwish was brillant! I like it! Quick fix and I can totally leave out the raisins .
~ingrid
I like both sweet and savory foods but I do not like them together at all!
I’m a major sweet tooth. For me, I could forego savory and eat sweet for everything meal. Although when I DO do that, I then get an inkling for savory. But I never crave salty foods. Never crave fries, chips, burgers or anything salty. Weird huh?
It’s nice to know I’m not the only one making carrot cake flavored foods
combo sweet and savory. this sandwich looks awesome
Fantastically said! I love your version of the carrot cake, I would love to try it one day… (but I still do love cake!!)
I am not a huge sweet fan either–this sandwich is totally genious!
do you even know how excited i am that you cooked in this post?! i LOVE your creations!! and as per usual this one is super creative like all the rest. although i would omit the raisins in the bread
xoxo
You are a genius! I love that recipe and I love how the carrot strips are still big and crunchy. Great analogy, too. You go, girl!
What an amazing post! And the “carrot cake”…that looks like it is to die for. I’ve got to try that soon!
ok, i love carrot cake, but i could get behind this version as well
looks beyond delish!! lovely story, too!
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