Cherry Butter Cake- For my baby girl on her first month

Its been over a month and half since we began our journey into parenthood but it feels like yesterday that I was in the labour room and my baby girl was in my arms the next minute ( though that next minute came after long 12 hours). I had always wanted a daughter and when anyone asked me why I always said, I needed a woman in the house to talk to. And god indeed answered my prayers and blessed me with this cutie pie. It still feels surreal at times. I am not a romantic mother , I am not emotional, I don't dote over my little girl. I pretty much bore her half the time talking crap about child psychology, philosophy and these days Buddhism because I read a book on it. But every time I look into her eyes I see wonder and joy maybe that's the best thing about being a baby- you trust your boring mom and accept her for what she is because you don't know your options :)

Love for me like my mom is always expressed through food so I decided to  bake something every month for Sarah. I know she can't eat it, but some day when she can read, I want to tell her how much she meant to me and how much I loved her despite my inadequacies :) This cake was inspired by my friend Noel, who brought me some cherries when she came to visit Sarah the first time. Noel I can't tell you how much I appreciate this gesture, I don't find many friends who gift me what I love the most. And though we haven't known each other for long, you have been a part of my life in times of trials and I guess that has laid the bedrock of our friendship. This cake is dedicated to you as well. We celebrated Sarah's first month on May 25th but this post took a long time to reach here because I was busy with my thesis and obviously Sarah. 

I could not get adventurous in kitchen because I was recuperating and many yelled at me for getting back to the kitchen so soon. I am hoping to bake something prettier next time and hopefully at day time so I get better light. Till then presenting to you baby Sarah !

Ingredients for Cherry Butter cake ( Recipe adapted from Joy of baking)

Eggs-3

Milk- 3 tbsp

Vanilla essence- 1 1/2 tsp

All purpose flour- 150 gm

Sugar- 150 gm

Baking powder- 1 tsp

Salt- 1/4 tsp

Butter ( unsalted)- 185 gm

Cherries- 90 gms

Directions

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl ( flour, baking powder, sugar, salt). In another bowl whisk the eggs and milk along with vanilla essence. In a cake mixer beat the dry mixture with half the butter followed by egg and milk mixture. Continue mixing the batter with remaining butter and egg mixture in two parts.Add the chopped cherries and mix well. Scrape the batter and pour it into the baking tray. Bake for 50 minutes till the cake turns golden brown. Dust the cake with some icing sugar and decorate with the leftover cherries.

Note: We were in a hurry to slice through so we did not let the cake cool adequately. Transfer the cake onto a cooling rack and cool  the cake before slicing. For a perfect slice dip the knife into hot water before slicing and you get neat pieces.