Although the menu at the national restaurant chain evolves, there are no plans to change one customer favorite - the carrot raisin bread.
The miniature loaf is one of the most popular offerings at Mimi's, which has more than 100 locations throughout the country, including four in Utah: Sandy, Murray, Orem and Layton.
Individual restaurants make more than 120 loaves a day, according to a company spokesperson. The loaves are served in a special bread basket when customers order soups, salads and entrees.
We adapted the recipe, a request of Zona Maraffio, from one found on the company Web site at http://www.mimiscafe .com.
Requests: Paul Hart would like a recipe for cinnamon rolls and Danish almond rolls, similar to those made at Granite Bakery, 900 E. 2700 South, Salt Lake City.
Jolene Auble would like a recipe for rice pudding similar to what was served at the now-closed Baba Afghan restaurant.
Patricia Blackett would like a baked eggplant recipe.
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Requests and responses must include first and last name and a daytime phone number for verification. Send to Cuisine Quest, c/o The Salt Lake Tribune, 90 S. 400 West, Suite 700, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, or e-mail kathys@sltrib.com.
Mimi's carrot bread
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
3 eggs
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup canned crushed pineapple with juice, drained
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup finely shredded carrots
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour one 9-inch square pan or 4 (3-by-6-inch) mini-loaf pans.
Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
In a separate bowl whisk together the oil, sugars and eggs. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in the walnuts, pineapple, raisins and carrots.
Pour the batter into the prepared pans, filling only 2/3 full. Bake for about 40 minutes for larger pans (30 minutes for small pans) or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Adapted from http://www.mimiscafe.com
