NAMISHA

For me, it’s partly the ritual: cracking eggs, the motion of whisking by hand, watching the batter transform into a silky, smooth cream. Buttering and lining the pan and even the waiting for the cake to bake, with that buttery perfume filling the kitchen, reassuring me that soon there will cake. Then it’s partly the result too, obviously: there is nothing more comforting than sitting down to a slice of still-warm cake and a cup of hot, milky tea (when I need to slow down or relax, nothing does it like a cup of tea for me) — even better if you’re sharing it with someone (this part may not be possible for everyone in quarantine, self-isolation or lockdown right now. Thank goodness I have little Luna who enjoys cake as much as I do, the other two members of the family aren’t into cake. To avoid having to eat an entire cake on my own, I often split the cake in half and freeze one half for another time)