Perfectionism Paralysis of a Sponge Cake
What to do if your sponge cake flops.
Does your anxiety cause poor sponge performance?
Many people say they don’t like cooking. I can appreciate not everyone likes everything, however, food is essential for life, so it's hard to avoid. The only time I can mildly understand not wanting to cook or getting anxiety over cooking is when I am making sponge cake. At this point, I feel the pain of all those who dislike cooking or get anxious, it’s tough.
So turns out I am not the only one that gets sponge cake making anxiety. Anxiety is the worst thing for a sponge, it causes poor sponge performance. One theory that I have over people being ‘sponge anxious’ is the fear of failure, the fear of the sponge flop! So many tricky points and pressure points that can cause a pancake-like sponge cake or a crater in the middle of the cake. The air bubbles, not the right amount of whisking, too much whisking, the list goes on.
So I am probably never going to be accepted into a Country Women’s Association (CWA) for my lack of sponge ability, however, I highly recommend their sponge recipe. I may not be able to assist you with perfecting the perfect sponge or the perfectionism paralysis of making the perfect sponge. I can however combat the food waste that is the result of a flopped sponge. Don’t throw out the cratered sponge or the pancake sponge. I have 3 delicious in their own right, flopped sponge recipe guides below. If you do happen to get a sponge cake on point (I made 3 sponges this weekend, 1 of them 3 flopped) I challenge you not to don the traditional strawberries and cream, try some other combinations. Have a look at what is in your fridge. I absolutely will not be accepted into a CWA now, I have sponge perfection paralysis and I also suggest not putting strawberries on a sponge. At least I am combating food waste.
Sponge - o - phob signing off.
You don’t always need to top a sponge with strawberries and cream. This one is topped with frozen raspberries and in the center yogurt and kumquat marmalade. Use what ever floats your boat or is in your fridge..
Words By
Anita La Forgia
Multipotentialite, lifestyle elevator and initiator of Levata
A treechanger who cooks to elevate life. Anita is passionate foodie using local, quality and seasonal ingredients. Living in the Macedon Ranges in Victoria she frequents the local farmers markets each week, with her beloved luggy. Her grandparents instilled the life skills of sustainable living, before sustainable living was a buzz word. She grew up in a restaurant and completing her International degree at César Ritz colleges in Switzerland, the heart land of hospitality, food and service.
Image source: Levata