Sunitha slid her plastic tiffin box over her worn wooden desk and onto mine in the middle of Catechism class. Despite her best efforts at trying to engage with me, I remained unbudged... stoic, uninterested and seemingly deaf to her well-intentioned friendly chatter. As a 10 year old and transplant to yet another new school, I was scared of my new environment and tired of trying to make friends and adjust once again to a bold and boisterous bunch of school girls in my new all-girls convent school. Moving from a genteel British school to a rough and tough Indian convent school was absolutely no fun.
"My mother made this pound cake," Sunitha whispered proudly, gesturing toward her tiffin box. "Try it."
Perhaps Sr. Judy incessantly droning on about Jesus's miracle of the five loaves and two fishes had stimulated my appetite or welled up in me the need to rebel and eat clandestinely during class with the hope of getting thrown out of class, but after a month of ignoring my classmate's friendly overtures, I finally gave in and took a piece of the pound cake.
"Nice," I whispered appreciatively, as my tough shell cracked slightly.
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| My 2 egg pound cake inspired by Sunitha's mum's cake. |
Sunitha's lovely face broke into a radiant smile. "We made the cake using eggs that our chickens laid."
"Really? You have chickens as pets?" I was impressed. She had her own chickens, that laid their own eggs! I wanted to have chickens too and collect their eggs. Buying eggs from the supermarket was absolutely boring business.
"Oh yes! I also have a squirrel. His name is Nippy. He fell onto our bed from the rafters when he was really small. He loves to sit on my shoulder and nuzzle my neck and sometimes he slips into my shirt and runs around. He tickles me so much with his little claws. He's always making me laugh," she whispered back breathlessly through pretty rosebud lips, her eyes sparkling. "Have more cake."
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| My two egg pound cake- quick to make when a friend is expected for tea. |
"You have a squirrel, too?" I choked spraying a gentle shower of cake crumbs over Sunitha. My estimate of Sunitha went up 10 fold. I wanted to have a squirrel too. Chickens and a squirrel. But I knew all too well, that the only place I'd be able to have interesting pets like these was in my imagination. My parents would never allow even a normal pet like a cat or dog, so there was no hope for a chicken or squirrel.
"What's going on back there," Sr. Judy's shrill voice interrupted us. "Are you two eating back there and that too during Catechism class? You disrespectful girls. You should be ashamed of yourselves. God will punish you. You don't deserve His blessings. Get out of class this instant."
"Yes, Sister," Sunitha said morosely, hanging her head with the expected amount of shame and making her way to the door. I followed with growing admiration.
Once on the other side of the door in the safety of the cool corridor, Sunitha leaned against the chunam wall and said casually without missing a beat, "Here, have more cake." And she started pulling out bits of cake from her uniform pockets.
"I have a dog called Timmy too. I named him after George's dog from the 'Famous Five'" said Sunitha munching happily.
She had a dog!! Named after my most beloved Enid Blyton books on the adventures of the Famous Five.
Who is this girl who has her own chickens, a squirrel named Nippy and a dog named Timmy!
And how is she so cool?
And who is this very cool girl who wants to talk to me?
"I love Timmy from the Famous Five. And George is my favourite character too," I lied.
I loved Timmy, but not tom-boy George. Dick was my favourite character. But shy, tween that I was, I was not going to admit that I liked a boy, and that too Dick, even he was only a literary figure.
Sunitha pondered that for less than a hearbeat.
"Hmmm...my favourite character is Dick. He's so handsome," she said breezily.
Then we both looked at each other and started giggling knowingly.
And just like that a friendship was formed over pound cake and pets.
In... and outside... of Catechism class. A friendship that has continued over the decades.
Sr. Judy was wrong. God blessed us after all.
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| My two egg pound cake decorated with button roses from my garden. |
Recipe for Two Egg Pound Cake
I call this my two egg Friendship Pound Cake, inspired by Sunitha's mum's cake.
Made with just 2 eggs, it's quick to make when a friend is expected for tea. After all, what's better than sharing a cup of tea and cake with a life-long friend and chattering on as if we were just two 5th graders once again.
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My 2-Egg Friendship Pound Cake
An intimately sized cake, perfect for a tete a tete with old friends. |
Ingredients:
☐ 2 eggs at room temperature
☐ Butter at room temperature
☐ Sugar
☐ Flour
☐ 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
☐ 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
Step by Step Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar very well for 5-6 minutes.
- Add one egg at a time and continue to beat well with an electric beater. Add the vanilla essence and mix in.
- Sift together the flour and baking powder. Add the flour mixture to the batter in 3 increments, beating each time until just incorporated and the batter is smooth and creamy. Do not overbeat.
- Pour the batter into a lined and dusted cake tine. Bake in a 325°F pre-heated oven, on the middle rack for 45 minutes until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean.
Click on the "Sweet and Desserts" label below to see my other sweet treats.
