Vanilla Cake – a trip down memory lane

I baked this simple and easy to make vanilla cake the other day. The house was filled with the aroma of the freshly baked cake and my family was waiting impatiently for it to be out of the oven and cut for tea time. My husband and daughter are not heavy eaters. They however, have very strong likes and dislikes when it comes to food and that does ensure that I am kept on my toes forever. This is a favorite at my place and so I bake this often.

The aroma of the freshly baked vanilla cake did have a great effect on me. It took me back a few years in time. I was just wondering whether it is only with me or is it something that others too experience. Over the years I have realized that I associate certain foods with people, occasions and events from the past. This cake is surely something which reminds me of my childhood. This is a recipe I learnt from my mom(waiting to have your yummy dishes ma).

She used to bake this for tea time or sometimes the house would be filled with the smell when my sister and I are back from school. This cake surely reminded me of the days we all spent together. Now when my sister and I are both married and managing our own separate households, keeping in touch regularly with each other and my parents is thanks to modern technology. I now realize all the hard work that has gone in to feed us all those delicious eats. I have begun to understand all the effort that my parents took to keeping a home that is perfect and finding time in their busy schedules to teach us the values that I am so proud of. This post definitely goes out to my parents and sister who have been there for me.

All this really makes me a little too emotional and I am waiting to go home in April. Now coming back to this quick recipe that wouldn’t take you more than 40 minutes for the mixing and baking.

Ingredients for the Vanilla Cake:
Refined Flour (maida) – 1 cup
Sugar – 1 cup
Melted butter – 1 cup
Baking powder – 1 ½ tsp (not heaped)
Eggs – 3 ( use at room temperature)
Vanilla essence – 3-4 drops

Method for making the vanilla cake:
1- Sift refined flour and baking powder 2-3 times.
2- Add to this the sugar, melted butter, eggs and vanilla essence.
3- Mix well (you can even put all the ingredients together in the mixer and beat well). If using the mixer , do ensure that you do not vary speeds, beat at one chosen speed.
4- Grease a cake tin and pour the cake mixture into it. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees for 30 minutes.