Brown Sponge Cake

Lately I have been musing a lot about keeping life simple. Taking the slow lane. Refusing to be rushed.

It’s hard! I’m not naturally a fast-paced person, but have found myself getting caught up in regular email and social media checkups. These apps fill my mind with to-do lists, amusements, tidbits about others’ lives, inspiration, pain; the list goes on…. Without realising it, my mind has been filled to over-flowing with all sorts, making it hard to be present and unhurried.

And this is just the brain space. What about the subtle online marketing that has influenced my desires? Or the pic of a friend on a night out has that has caused me to want to head out also. The cool outfit trends of the influencers I follow that I want to emulate. My desire to consume increases, and I want to spend and go out, further impacting on my hurried state of being.

Aghhh….

So, I have been making some changes. Trying to restrict my email and social media checks to once, at most twice a day. Limiting screen time in general so I can enjoy the beauties of unhurried nature and enjoy sweet fellowship with loved ones. Trying to enjoy a Sabbath rest once a week, where we just stick home and enjoy the things we already blessed with: the rocking chair on the front porch. Those craft kits the kids haven’t opened yet. Those recipes we have never tried.

In this experiment I have noticed my ability to be present and my delight go right up. I haven’t felt the need to spend or go out. I have been able to enjoy the wonderful things we have already been blessed with.

What about you? Do you feel rushed in this present age? Distracted and discontent? I know this is going deep for a recipe post, but it’s connected. When you stop and choose to make something with simple ingredients from items you most likely have on hand, you are grounding yourself in the present in so many ways. You are creating. Mix, measure, bake and something wonderful happens…. The previously separate ingredients change structure, merge together, fill your house with the most wonderful aromas, delight your taste buds and nourish your soul. It can be a sweet shared experience with little ones or teenagers that draws you all into the present and forces you to slow down.

Store bought baked goods are rarely free of preservatives or nasty additives, and even if they are the enjoy of consuming them quickly passes compared with baking your own goods. So go on, try some home baking today!

Now onto the recipe (finally :p)…. Brown Sponge Cake.

This recipe is interesting because unlike a regular sponge cake there are a few extra flavours to spice things up, namely cinnamon and cocoa powder. The cocoa powder isn’t much, so it doesn’t rarely change the flavour but it does change the colour from regular white to brown. Variety is the spice of life, right?? And then there’s the cinnamon. I love this spice! It has a host of health benefits, plus the flavours are so pleasing.

We enjoyed this sponge simply with jam and cream in the middle and a dusting of icing sugar on top. I recommend using a smaller spring-form cake tin to bake in as we used a regular sized one and the sponge ended up quite thin. Nevertheless, it was polished off very quickly in my household without me even getting a slice! I have to rely on the opinions of others for this one, and they were all positive.

I hope you enjoy this Brown Sponge Cake recipe as much as my family did. Not only the flavours, but the process of making it too. Slowing down, using your hands to create, waiting for the final product (while enjoying the delicious baking aromas) and making a cup of tea to go with it too!

Enjoy!