Today is Pi Day & We’re Celebrating with Cake

March 14 is Pi Day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein

It’s Albert Einstein’s Birthday.

It’s also a math geek’s holiday.

It’s the official celebration of the mathematical constant pi.

 π

Pi has mystified mathematicians for centuries.

It’s a way to describe the shape of a circle.

Image Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pi.eq.C.over.d.png

The number represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to it’s diameter.

No matter the size of the circle, the ratio is always . . .

3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510582097494459230…

It’s an irrational number that never ends.

The numbers of pi are random, with no repeating pattern.

“So why are you celebrating with cake?”,  you ask.

“It has to do with food justice.”

“This is a tomato juice spice cake.”

“Tomato Juice . . . in a cake?”, you ask.”

“Yup.”

“Why?”

“Because I grow a garden.”

“And I can my own tomatoes.”

“And I have so much juice to use.”

“But what does this have to do with justice?”

“Because I believe that children should focus on their studies, not pick my vegetables.”

So today, while many folks are celebrating the accomplishments of mathematicians everywhere, I am playing my part by choosing actions that do not contribute to an unjust system where some folks have abundant opportunity in life and where others are prevented from realizing this same opportunity.

Tomato Juice Spice Cake

Preheat oven to 350°

Lightly grease and flour a 13 x 9 inch pan.

Mix together the dry ingredients:

3 cups all purpose flour


1 1/2 tsp baking powder


1 1/2 tsp baking soda


1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cloves


1/2 tsp ground nutmeg



1 tsp ground allspice


1 TBS ground cinnamon


In mixer bowl, cream together until fluffy:

12 tbsp butter, room temperature


2 cups of sugar


Add and mix to creamed butter:

4 large eggs


2 tsp vanilla extract


Stir in half of the flour mixture, followed by the tomato juice, followed by the remaining flour mixture.

2 cups tomato juice

Mix only until no streaks of dry ingredients remain and pour into prepared pan.

Bake for 45-50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow cake to cool in the pan before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

In a large mixing bowl, beat together until smooth:

1 8oz package cream cheese


1 TBS milk

1 tsp vanilla


Adding 1 cup at a time, mix in and beat together until fluffy:

4 cups of powdered sugar


Enjoy.

© Nancy Babbitt and Just Desserts Blog, 2013-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nancy Babbitt and Just Desserts Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.