I’ve been studiously avoiding any baking whilst at home with the boys for a couple of months. I’d probably be very good it at, mind: I’m accurate with measurements and pay close attention to instructions. I guess I don’t want to fall into a trap of hoping a hobby can turn into a lucrative livelihood. Despite friendly bank TV adverts to the contrary – those who can make a successful business out of their passion are few and far between. For most it’s simply a means of getting by without being part of the rat race.
I’m reminded of a Woody Allen film, “Small Time Crooks”, where Woody, who plays a dishwasher and fantasist bank robber , plans a subterranean heist whilst his wife Frenchy (Tracey Ullman) opens a cookie baking business in the ground floor retail unit to provide cover for the premise lease. Needless to say the plan cooked up by Ray (his friends call him The Brains – ironically) is a dismal failure, however, Frenchy’s cookie business accidentally succeeds in spectacular style rendering the couple millionaires and introducing them to all the issues large wealth brings. To be fair, I think I’m probably more likely to triumph as a bank robber than a baker – let’s face it – you don’t see many intelligent criminals – so one can assume those who are will be secretly enjoying their spoils on an extinct volcanic island somewhere or other.
Back to baking. I discovered today that the Greeks, it turns out, are a very superstitious people and among these superstitions is a belief that cake baking can bring good fortune. The story goes like this (and I thank Susie Atsaides for the history):
St. Fanourios is the patron saint of “things lost” and Orthodox Greeks bake a special cake each year on August 27th called a Fanouropita by way of an offering.
“According to Greek lore, he will show you the answer to your problem or question if in return you offer him a cake and ask God to forgive his mother and rest her soul in peace. It is unclear as to why we ask for his mothers’ forgiveness. Some stories say that she was a sinner of some sort, others that its only spoken out of respect as Greeks always ask God to forgive and rest a soul in peace when they refer to the dead.
The Fanouropita is not just any cake. It is made completely out of fasting ingredients and contains no dairy products. While you’re making this cake you keep in mind the problem at hand or the question that you wish an answer to.
After it is baked, the cake must be given to at least 7 different houses. In other words, people from at least 7 different families have to eat it. Of course, after meeting the 7-house requirement, you and your family can have some too. None of this cake can be thrown away; all of it has to be consumed.”
Now, I now it’s a tad late in the season, but I thought I might give it a whirl. Firstly, since it’s a spiced & nutty cake and might save me from a seasonal mince pie addiction that’s slowly creeping up on me & secondly because, as a family, we are no stranger to things going missing. This year, my 15yo Aspie son has lost 4 waterproof jackets – the total value of which comes to more than £300 and (more importantly) the most recent of which happened to by mine; borrowed by mistake.
As a parent to an Autistic child you expect that some things “just happen” and nothing you can do (buying an expensive *special* jacket, emotional blackmail etc.) will stop the process. I’m hoping that for the cost of a few basic ingredients – we might just have one of them turn up. Fingers crossed it’s a shrewd investment.
Here’s the recipe for anyone who’s curious – it’s also dairy free!:
Fanouropita Cake
Ingredients:
•1 cup sunflower oil
•1 cup sugar
•3/4 cup orange juice
•1/4 cup brandy
•2 tsp. ground cinnamon
•1/4 tsp. ground clove
•1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
•3 cups all-purpose flour
•1/2 cup ground walnuts
•1/2 cup raisins
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 180˚c degrees.
Lightly grease and flour a 9 inch round (24 cm) cake pan.
In a large bowl using a whisk, mix together the sunflower oil and the sugar until well combined. Add the orange juice, brandy, spices, and baking powder and mix well.
Using a spatula, incorporate the flour into the batter and mix until just combined. Mix in the ground walnuts and raisins.
Transfer the batter into the cake pan and smooth the top with the spatula. Bake in a preheated 180˚c degree oven for 45-50 minutes or until the cake is nicely browned.
(Thanks to Charliemakescakes for the Fanouropita Cake visual)
Justine Caul - The Excerpts 