Cooking Art’s Roll – Modifications for my Mama

As a young adult, I had very little money on me, even after I started working. This is because my parents’ business was falling apart and I had to put myself through the university, and still brought home cash for the family as I felt really sad seeing my mother so troubled with the finances.

Despite that, I would always invest in myself. It was in my late teens and early twenties that I picked up all kinds of skills by attending all sorts of classes: languages, cooking, baking, sewing, dancing, aerobicss, lifesaving. I became proficient in many, many things, including becoming a qualified lifeguard, a certified aerobics and personal trainer, I can sew my own work clothes, evening gowns and swimming costumes, I can bake and cook pretty much anything I wanted to, and I speak seven languages.

In 1988 and 1989, I attended baking classes three times a week. It was rare for people to attend baking classes then, and even rarer for a young woman to do so. I could only afford non-branded classes in the neighbourhood. But I learned a lot. There were good teachers that made me proficient. I learned everything they could teach and attended every course available. The first cake the school I attended, Cooking Art, taught was cake rolls. Really easy to make.
Here is their recipe:

This recipe is fail-proof in that it uses a one-bowl method and ovalette. Ovalette is an emulsifier and cake stabiliser that is used predominantly in the baking sponge cakes or steam cakes. It gives the cakes a super fine texture.

My mother also wanted to learn how to bake, so I developed a recipe for her using a Tablespoon, since she is illiterate. That was 30 years ago. However, my mother now has dementia, and is not able to memorize the recipe anymore. So I now draw the recipe for her in the little note book.

Roll before it cools

Once it cools, sandwich your favourite filings and then roll up. I like to use butter cream.

Before trimming

Ready to eat

Here is my mother.. Now if she at 83 can bake the cake, then don’t give any more excuses. I have shown you how.

My mom enjoying the fruit of her labour.