Strawberry Cardamom Cake

Weird thought...most of our lives as humans are just chasing, chasing and chasing to no end or until exhaustion. But we rarely stop to ask if what we're chasing lines up with who we are. Most of the time we are motivated by money, status, titles and approval. But none of these things actually define us, we're just told they do. Yes, we need to survive but I find some of the most impactful people I've met have been the ordinary heroes. There once was a woman who told me I was beautiful, just because she could and she changed my entire perspective forever. She was a cashier I had met when I was an awkward, uncomfortable and confused mixed-race 11 year old, who thought her eyebrows were "too dark and too bushy". This woman completely changed my life and had no idea. I remember dozing off into the distance with no clue someone was watching me, while my mom finished paying for our groceries. Then all of the sudden I hear a soft voice admiringly say "you're daughter is beautiful". I blushed and felt a little flutter in my stomach when it hit me she was talking about me. Little did that incredible soul know that she helped me see past all the stereotypes I had been fed from the media and living in a pretty white washed world. One that favoured white skin, athletic bodies, blue eyes and blonde hair. She taught me 1. That you should always tell someone when you admire them (it feels great) and 2. That your self-perception shouldn't be defined by the people around you. That wasn't a lesson given to me from a multi-million dollar CEO or from the top celebrity of the year. Nope, it was from someone who was spreading love from where she stood, because that is who she was. Not a cashier, she was a generous soul who I believe had the same ability to change the world just as much as anyone else. The only difference is: She didn't wait for the permission or the title to do it. She did it by her own ability with where she was. Just because she could. So if you take anything away from this (other than a SUPER moist berry cake;)) I hope it's that you can do the good you've always craved...now, right where you are.

Recipe

• 1 cup of Sugar

• 2 Eggs

• 1/4 cup + 1/8 cup vegan butter

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 cap Coconut extract

• 10 pods Cardamom

• 1 cup Flour

• 450 grams Strawberries

• 1 tsp Baking powder

• Greased pie dish

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Grind cardamom pods in a mortar and pestle and set aside

3. Melt butter - 30 seconds, until liquid

4. Add in raw eggs

5. Mix together completely

6. Toss in sugar and mix to get the sticky consistency

7. Add in extracts and mix

8. Toss in flour, cardamom and baking power - mix it well to keep the sticky consistency but don’t over mix.

9. Cut up the strawberries and toss in bowl icing sugar to coat.

10. Fold them into the batter.

11. Grease a pie dish.

12. Pour the batter evenly

13. Bake for 20-30 minutes at 350F

14. Take out when knife inserted in the centre is clean.

15. Serve with either whipped cream or a cream cheese drizzle!