This is one of my favourite cake recipes handed down to me from my Mother.

It's the Elachi (Cardamom) cake...a spongy cake that's great for tea parties or rainy days.

Ingredients:

2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 Tsp Cardamom crushed
1/2 Tsp Nutmeg crushed
1/4 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Butter (softened)
4 Eggs
1 Tsp Vanilla Essence
1 Cup Milk

Directions:

Set oven to 350 degrees F.

I like to use fresh nutmeg and cardamom pods and crush them instead of powders which I don't find as aromatic. Remove the shells of the nutmeg and cardamom and crush into a powder.

Combine the softened butter and sugar together in a big bowl. Add eggs and blend together.

Combine the flour with the crushed cardamon, nutmeg, salt and baking powder together in separate bowl.

Pour the milk and flour into the butter/sugar mixture and blend until smooth.

Grease and lightly flour a loaf pan and pour the batter (should be smooth and creamy).

Bake for 1 hour at 350F

Cool on a wire rack and dust with icing sugar if desired.

Serve with piping hot chai (tea)!