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I have always loved sweet baked goodies, but I have not always been a doula. The love of sweet things goes ack to my grandma, I can still picture her in her kitchen making pies, cookies and cakes. I think her favourite was pies, because pie crusts were the one special thing my own mother passed down to me. My love of pies runs deep and true, from apple pie in the fall to peach pie in the late summer. Pie is superb, I love the hot sweet filling juxtaposed to the flaky tender crust. Not to brag, but my pie crusts are awesome. The secret is lard, and a bit of ice-cold vodka mixed with when adding the water.

Cakes on the other hand… cakes are a recent development. It wasn’t until pregnancy with my daughter when I started appreciating cakes. Which I know sounds ridiculous, who doesn’t love cake? But before pregnancy I was a pie girl all the way. Now? Now I can’t get enough.

I remember in the third trimester, after I had stopped working, I was on a Downton Abby binge (again). Inspired by their teatime, I decided to host my own teatime with my daughter-to-be, myself and the series. Now, being the middle-lands of North America I grew up with Betty Crocker. My grandma had a Betty Crocker cookbook, my mother did, and when I moved out of the house, I had my own. So, in my cake-craving mood I scoured my old faithful Betty Crocker for an easy to make cake. One I didn’t have to leave the house hugely pregnant to buy specialty supplies. I didn’t have any cake mixes, but I did have all the basics. Voila, I found the oldy but goody of a Lemon Poppy Seed Cake. Unfortunately, I did not have a Bundt pan, but I had other pans, and nothing was going to stop me in my pregnant cake-pursuits.

 Dearest gentle reader it was phenomenal. It turned out soft and moist with a light and airy crumb. Not too sweet, but sweet enough. Not too lemony, but lemony enough. Pregnant me was happy, full, and craving-free.

I made that cake twice, paired it with a late afternoon decaf latte. Oh, those blissful days pre-baby where I lounged on the sofa eating cake with Downton Abby! It was bliss, total calorie-laden, sweet tooth-fulfilled bliss. No experience unpregnant compares to those satisfied cravings.

Being pregnant introduced me to my love of cake. It continued postpartum and into my working days as a doula. Even two and a half years later I still love cake (and eat it more than pie!).

Once I decided to become a doula (a story for another post) I realized how valuable food is to the newly postpartum. So, I started taking cake on the first visit to my postpartum clients (after getting their food allergies confirmed of course). Who doesn’t love cake? I’ll tell you who loves cake, people how have just given birth, they definitely love cake.

Stay tuned for more stories about cake and babies. Thanks so much for reading.

E