Spring this year is quite spectacular and my pear tree is heavily swagged with generous sprigs of creamy blossom. It is a fleeting delight, as the little petals are already being blown adrift by the strong westerly breeze and speckling the garden like fat snowflakes.
I had a craving for a good, filling cake, the kind you need after 3pm, when lunch is a distant memory and dinner is a long way off. I had four ancient apples to use up. Wrinkled and soft (a reproachful reminder that I should have eaten them weeks ago), they were peeled, cored and sliced, loosely following this BBC Food recipe here for Dorset apple cake. The cores and peelings I put out in a quiet spot for the birds and already the blackbird has been visiting that corner.
I tweaked the recipe a little; I accidentally added an extra ounce of flour as I am using a tablespoon to measure out ingredients (my old Salter weighing scales have finally given up), I didn’t have soft brown sugar so I used castor, and I layered the slices at the bottom of the dish, Tart Tatin style, because the pattern looked so pleasing.
Then the batter was slopped all over it and more sugar sprinkled on top.
It came out far larger than I anticipated; it is a rather plain looking and stodgy ‘fill you up’ cake, which is, after all, what I wanted. I have frozen half of it, as I cannot possibly eat that much cake this week and it won’t keep as well as a fruit cake. But it does go nicely with a cup of tea.
I took a slice out with me last Sunday, when I cycled out for a quick solo sketching trip at a nearby church.
It’s taken me twelve years to feel like myself again after everything that’s happened, but this year I really think I’ve turned a corner and I’m enjoying doing the things I used to love again.
13 comments:
I'm so happy that you are feeling better! That's such good news. Keep up having fun, getting out, painting, and doing those things that bring you joy.
I smiled at your description of your cake! It does sound tasty though. And I do have some poor wrinkly apples.
How you sketch such tiny things amazes me. What a precious little piece it is.
Such good news that you are finally feeling more like your old self! I am so glad. It has been quite a journey.
Wonderful news Gretel, so lovely to wander over to your blog and rediscover a slower pace of life. Spring has been so bountiful this year, thank you for thoughtful and inspiring words.
The cake looks wonderful-nice and firm to pack for a picnic and not crumble everywhere! I think I have some of those same wrinkled apples hiding in my fridge - I’ll give you a recipe a try! It’s good you’re enjoying things - Sometimes the days can be a battle, Doing something we love can really lift the spirits.
I'm so pleased you feel as though you have turned a corner, long may it continue.
What a beautiful reflection of both the fleeting nature of spring and the comfort found in simple pleasures. Your cake sounds wonderfully rustic—perfect for the time of day when you need something to fill the gap between meals. The tweaks you made to the recipe only add to its charm, and I love the idea of pairing it with a sketching outing. It’s the little moments like these that make life feel so grounded.
I'm also delighted for you. You've had such a hard time. Now for some happiness!
Thank you Pam!
Thank you Suzanne - those apples were disgracefully old and I’m surprised they were able to be used! Doing tiny work is quite a good discipline and makes you really concentrate on what marks you need to put down. And yes, some journey!
Thank you Lin - small steps every day!
Thank you so much - I am working on it, taking each day as it comes.
Thank you Val - yes, it’s been an amazing Spring, hopefully it will continue!
So true Mary - I have to make an effort every day to ensure I’m being kind to myself, I think of it as my mental health tool kit and it’s amazing what a difference little things can make.
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