The Perfect Sunday

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Yesterday was the perfect Sunday. It began, after a hearty sleep in, with scrambled eggs on toast scattered with garlic chives (from my garden, no less) eaten barefoot on the front deck. It got sidetracked somewhat when a bee stung my little toe, which seemed awfully cruel since it was the first time I'd gone barefoot at all - indoors or out - this Spring.

But in truth, that wasn't so bad. I'm sure it was worse for the bee. I seem to have a higher resistance to bee stings than I remember, plus it allowed for a bit of quality time with some frozen peas, my couch and two too many episodes of One Tree Hill (I blame you, Jaimie, Vanessa and Katherine).

And, as if by some kind of miracle of trashy TV, I was healed. No itching, no swelling no pain (at least not until this morning). I took it as a good sign, cooked some pasta and then planted some tomato and nasturtium seeds in anticipation for the summer. I have no pictures yet; there's nothing to see besides black dirt in purple trays, but promise to post as soon as their pretty green heads start to shoot. I am excited. There is something so grounding, satisfying and wholesome about gardening. And something so fabulously retro about nasturtiums. I only hope my motivation lasts, and that my baby plants don't get killed by frost. I've never started from seeds before, I feel nervous, and just slightly like I'd imagine a recently impregnated woman might feel, but obviously on a much smaller scale.

Then, in the late, graying afternoon (my favorite time of day) I put on Joanna Newsom's Ys (one of my favorite albums) and got to crafting yoyos for this very ongoing project, some in a cheerful cream fabric covered in teeny tiny orange polka dots, others in a very pale shade of blue punctuated with a leafy pattern in cream. There is something about crafting by lamplight on one's bed that is, well, perfect.



Tom, Sally and I shared a humble dinner of roasted potatoes and sweet potatoes, which we filled with combinations of butter,vintage cheddar, sour cream, smoked salmon, more garlic chives and hot paprika. We all pilled into Katherine's bed together (I dangling with one arse cheek off) and watched an episode of True Blood.

Then I made this cake:


Apple and Cinnamon Teacake

This is one of my new go-to recipes when I feel like baking but don't feel like leaving the house. I usually always have the ingredients to hand and love the fact that it uses up some of my large store of raspberry jam. I also love that it allows for some decorative finesse with apple slices. Moreover, I pretty much adore the word teacake. It's so old fashioned and comforting and always reminds me of my mother on the odd occasion that she decided to be old fashioned and comforting (usually by borrowing recipes from my dear friend, Diana's mother). This recipe, however, comes from she of the modern-old-fashioned cook books: Donna Hay*.

Ingredients

185g butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2/3 cup caster sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup milk
for the topping
2 apples (I think any variety works)
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup of jam (I usually use raspberry but Donna suggests apricot)

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees and grease a round cake tin of approximately 22cm in diameter, or line it with baking paper.
2. Cream the butter, sugar and cinnamon using an electric mixer. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
3. Sift in the flour and baking powder, then add the milk and fold with a wooden spoon till just combined.
4. Spoon into your cake tin.
5. To make the topping, cut thin half moons from your apple (avoiding the core). Fan these out in three circles around the top of your cake, thusly:


6. Combine the extra sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the apples.
7. Bake for 50 minutes.
8. Brush the apple with the jam, which you have softened slightly by briefly microwaving. Return to the oven for ten minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
9. Eat warm with a dollop of thickened cream and an Earl Grey served in a cup with saucer.

As you can see, this unassuming cake has been rather popular round here.

*I realise that a pattern is emerging here, but I really don't love Donna Hay that much, honest! I'm much more of a Maggie Beer or Stephanie Alexander kind of girl.