Poor Man Cake

Coldness was the only thing I could felt. My feet was cold and my hands went numb that I had to tucked them under the gaps of my knee. The cold crept under my clothes and spread through my skin. I lost count of how many hours I'd been lingering out there on a green bench outside the hostel. The darkness was stabbed by the broken street lights by the trash can, lighting the whole area with peachy color. Earlier the sunset light was incredibly lovely and immediately it turned into the emptiness of cold black sky.

I had on Katy's huge hoodie. It was the only thing I could find cause we didn't expect it would get this cold in the midst of March. Anyway, My first intention was to finish some writings but somehow my head just couldn't seem to concentrate on that white paper on my laps even one bit. I curled my knee to my chest. Looking around. The trees were lonely and I was too. Everybody else was out working, hanging out and what not, but I was glad I had that time all to myself. It was a good kind of lonely that made me realized things a little bit better. I, then ended up sitting there and played all the records from Gabrielle straight-up twice. The songs fitted perfectly at the moment. The moment when you are feeling down, and trying to figure out what to do next. But also the kind of moment that give you the appreciation for things that had happened and for not-knowing tomorrow.

A man walked out and sat down on the seat across the table when the clock ticked to 8. We greeted, exchanged smiles, and I gestured to make sure he knew it was okay to sit on the chair across the table. And we just sat in silent. For a long while.

The guy is an African American in mid 50 and he doesn't have much to go around. His hip didn't work properly anymore so he always had to walk slowly with his body bending to a side. He usually dressed up nicely with that faded brown coats on and off to church on Sunday morning and instant noodles was usually what he had for dinner everyday. He was quiet and we both woke up early in the morning. One day I said hi and he said hi back with a smile in return. Ever since then that was pretty much all the conversation we had everyday. I never knew his name. And I don't think he did either.

He was just a man in general , but in a not so friendly world of strangers, he always smiles and says good morning. And that was make him stand out to me. But in a sense, I guess he made me feel safe but also made me feel sad at the same time and I don't want him to be sad. I don't want him to feel like he is different and no one cares about him. So we occasionally saved him some food and that seemed like the least we could do.

After awhile, he sneaked out the brown paper with a bottle of beer wrapped inside. Gulping the liquor down his throat, then with his little gadget, the 80's songs were played. He didn't ask for my permission and I was glad he didn't. I just led him have at it. His songs changed the atmosphere all of sudden. It was the opposite from what I played earlier. His music had the rustic feeling that reminded me of old days. It felt soothing. Really soothing. I, then fixed my eyes intensely on the street light and just cherished the moment and he was just drinking in peace- Candice.

Poor Man Cake (Chai Tea Bundt Cake)

2 tsp black tea

3 cardamom pods, smashed just to help release the smell later on

3 cloves

3 tablespoons boiling water

2½ cups flour

3 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp mixed spice powder

1 tsp cinnamon powder

4 eggs

1 cups coconut milk

1/2 cup milk

210g unsalted butter, melted

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 tsp poppy seeds

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vinegar

Milk for splashing on the cake

In a tiny bowl, put black tea, cardamoms, and cloves in there and cover with boiling water for about 3 minutes. Now, in 2 bowl, mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately. Drain the tea into the wet mixture as well. Then, combine the two mixtures together. You will get a pretty runny cake batter at this point, but do not worry, it will come out light and beautifully. Bake at the preheated oven at 350'F for about 20 minutes. Check and see if the toothpick comes out clean, if not, then bake for another 10-15 minutes or until the toothpick inserted come out clean. Let cool completely before you frost it.

Frosting

8og butter

50g condensed

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

3 tbsp coconut

2 tsp vanilla

splash of milk

Put everything except for the powder sugar in the pot and bring it to a boil on a medium heat. Keep stiring. When everything is fully melted, turn off the heat. Now add the powdered sugar and stir until there are no lumps left in the frosting. Let cool for about 5-10 minutes cause if you go ahead and frost the cake now then the frosting will be too runny and it won't stick to your cake really way. It would just run off. So make sure your frosting cool down a bit and get a little thicker. When you are about to frost the cake, just use a spoon and just drop the frosting all over the top of the cake and let it run down the sides itself. Do not spread it with a spoon. Just let it be and get a natural look.