I have one off day per week. Only one precious off day. I’m going to give myself a treat. To be more precise, a date.

It’s a quiet and lazy afternoon. There are a bunch of things on my to-do-list but let’s put them aside for a while. When I was working in London, I’d prepared afternoon tea delights for noble customers. It’s too luxurious for me to have cream tea like the British with cucumber sandwiches, scones and clotted cream, delightful little pastries and cakes. By the time I get everything in place, the sun has set.

Just keep it simple, shall we?  A slice of cake and a cup of tea.

For tea, it will be mulberry tea from my lovely cousin sister. She plucked mulberry leaves from her garden and pan dried them her own. My oh my, couldn’t get any better than this. For cake, I opt for a date cake with subtle soy goodness. No fancy cream or icings, just apricot kernels to give some bites. Here goes the recipe:

No Nonsense Date Cake

110g unsalted butter, soften

90g castor sugar

100g egg

1 teaspoon baking powder

150g cake/all purpose flour

a pinch of cinnamon powder

a pinch of salt

120g soy milk (unsweetened)

80g chopped dates

40g apricot kernel (lightly coated with flour)

1. Sieve all the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, cinnamon powder, salt) together.

2. Cream together butter and sugar till light and fluffy.

3. Add egg gradually.

4. Add in sifted dry ingredients and mix gently till even.

5. Add soymilk, follow by chopped date.

6. Pour the mixture into a lightly greased and floured baking tin (I used a 12cm*24cm rectangular tin), sprinkle apricot kernels on top (the flour coating on the kernels will prevent it from sinking to the bottom).

7. Bake at 175°C for around 30 minutes till the top of the cake turns golden in colour. Insert a toothpick in the middle of the cake, if it comes out clean, it’s done.

I enjoy the company with my date at the most comfortable place called home. Where will you bring your date? A family picnic with cheerful sun and green grass? A catch-up chat with friends? A morning breakfast with your favourite cuppa and newspaper? A leisurely do-nothing afternoon with a good book and some music? Wherever it is, wish you have a great one.