Beat together the sugar, oil, and the soaked chia seeds.
Add the dissolved baking soda and the vanilla and beat again.
Add the flour, salt, and baking powder. I always push the baking powder through a fine sieve or tea strainer to get out all the lumps. Mix this by hand until the batter is just blended together. Don't over mix.
Add the grated carrots, nuts and raisins and gently incorporate them.
Divide the batter evenly between the space in the muffin tin.
Pop in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven when the tops of the muffins are dry and firm to the touch.
Remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack.