Honey Chamomile Spice Cake
Glancing out my desk window, I notice burnt orange and gold highlights appearing on the leaves of the flowering dogwood in my backyard. When I looked at the clock a few days ago, I was taken aback to see it was only 7:45pm when darkness took over the night sky. Shorter days, longer nights, and hopefully some slower days are upon us.
Warm spices fill the kitchen as I bake cakes for Rosh Hashanah, like the one below, perfumed with cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. There’s a good bit of honey in here, too, and some fresh pressed apple cider. I love this period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the way the seasons slide into one another while Judaism also asks us to reflect on the transition from one year to the next.
There are three new years in my life: the one of the Jewish calendar, my birthday, and the one recognized on the Gregorian calendar. They’re all times of deep thought. Where have I been? Where am I going? Who have I been? Who do I want to be?
I wanted to share this cake with you before the weekend in case anyone feels inspired to bake a lovely cake that also happens to be an easy, one bowl recipe, requiring just a whisk to mix it up. I hope you enjoy it as much as we all do here at home.
Be well, and remember to be kind. —xo, j.
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