This carrot cake recipe was shared with culinary artist Nia Lee by her mother, who originally took it from Patti LaBelle’s “LaBelle Cuisine: Recipes to Sing About” cookbook. Over the years, Lee, who uses food as a tool for building community, adapted the recipe in homage to early LGBTQ+ activist Marsha P. Johnson. The name “Pay It No Mind” refers to Johnson’s bold and audacious spirit, despite the circumstances she was living in.

“When I think of warmth and creativity and softness, I think of Marsha, and that’s also the energy I want to infuse into this cake,” Lee said.

Lee’s version adds browned butter and spices such as mace and nutmeg, and it doubles the amount of vanilla extract to create a lighter cake that she likens to a warm and comforting hug.