Simple cardamom sponge + Jason Reitman

I watched “Young Adult” last Saturday in an almost empty theater and at the end of the movie, to my surprise, most of the viewers were saying awful things about it; I understand that Jason Reitman’s kind of humor is not the very popular kind (thank heavens!) and I’ll admit that his movies should come with a bar of chocolate attached – a little mood enhancing for the end of the session – but to say that a movie sucks because you expected something different entirely... It’s not an argument I’ll buy. I loved the movie and its clever dialogues, found it very funny and sad at the same time – which is exactly how “Up in the Air” made me feel – and Charlize Theron is absolutely amazing in it: I’m glad that at least the Golden Globes gave her performance some recognition.

Maybe Jason Reitman is like cardamom – odd to some while others love it. This very simple cake is the one that was delicious served with the spiced plums.

Simple cardamom sponge
from the beautiful Piece of Cake (mine was bought here)

½ cup (120ml) whole milk
1 tablespoon whole cardamom pods, seeds removed and ground in a pestle and mortar
¼ cup (56g) unsalted butter
3 large eggs
1 cup + 2 tablespoons (224g) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups (210g) all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt
breadcrumbs, for preparing the pan
icing sugar, to serve

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Butter an 8-cup capacity ring cake pan and dust with breadcrumbs, removing the excess.
Combine milk and cardamom in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until it starts to boil. Remove from the heat, add the butter and stir until melted.
In the large bowl of an electric mixer, using the whisk attachment, beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla together until light and fluffy. Add the milk mixture and mix. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt over the bowl and carefully fold to combine.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake until risen, golden and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
Cool in the pan over a wire rack for 10-15 minutes, then carefully unmold onto the rack. Cool completely. Dust with icing sugar to serve.

Serves 8