Just a few months ago, we moved all the Jivana Yoga classes from our living room in the main house to the new ‘Sadvidya Space’ at the very back of the property.  It is a beautiful, wild, and natural space overlooking the fruit orchard and the vegetable garden. To get there, it is quite a journey, entering through an unassuming green door, stepping into and away from the hustle and bustle of old Sintra; you then weave your way past the main house, following the signs that lead along a cobbled stoned path through a lush green forest full of moss, all the while listening to the soft and sweet melody of the birds above.

Something of yourself has already softened, and a natural quietness begins to present itself from within. You continue to pass an old chapel canopied under richly scented eucalyptus trees which loom above, and there you find yourself at a door of the ‘Sadvidya Space’ where one can enter into the warmth and escape the attraction of the external world to travel inwards for a few hours.

I like to think of this journey from the ‘Green Door’ to the ‘Space’ as preparation for our inward practice, helping us to begin to let go along the way.  This is also where I like to test my new recipes and serve them after class to our lovely group on Saturday mornings. This pear and ginger cornmeal cake disappeared quickly!

´The Sadvidya Space´

pear ginger cornmeal cake

8  servings

The ginger and pear are perfect together, and the ginger is subtle enough to linger—a very easy dessert for the morning or to prepare for a large group. I like to bake this in a wider baking tray (6.5-inch x 10.5-inch), almost like a slice. If using a smaller tray or skillet, the cake may need more cooking time.

pear topping

4 small/370g firm pears

2 Tbsp butter/ghee/coconut oil

2 Tbsp brown sugar

dry ingredients

1 cup/135g cornmeal

½ cup/75g wholewheat flour

½ cup/75g unbleached white flour

2 tsp baking powder

½ tsp fine rock salt

1 heaped tsp ginger powder

wet ingredients

¼ cup almond milk

¼ cup olive oil

¾ cup maple syrup (maple syrup can be replaced with ½ cup sugar)

2 Tbsp crystallized ginger, finely chopped

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2 Tbsp brown sugar

½ cup roughly chopped macadamia nuts

preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F.  Line a baking pan or oil a round 8-9 inch cast iron skillet.

prepare the pear topping

  1. Halve the pears, remove the seeds, and slice each half into fours about ¼-inch thick. Set aside.
  2. Add the butter and sugar to a skillet over medium heat. Melt the mixture, stirring to combine, and cook until it begins to bubble, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the pears, toss the pan to coat them with syrup, cover, and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

prepare the cake

  1. Whisk the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt and ginger powder in a mixing bowl.  Set aside.
  2. In a separate bowl, combine the nut milk, olive oil, maple syrup, and crystallized ginger.
  3. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon; do not overmix. Pour the batter into the baking dish or oiled skillet. You may need to spread it out with a spatula.

arrange the pears

  1. Toss the pear slices to coat them with the pan juices. Arrange the pear slices decoratively in even rows over the top of the batter, and drizzle with the remaining pan juices. Sprinkle with a little brown sugar and the roughly chopped macadamia nuts.
  2. Bake until golden, approximately 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Serve with a dollop of cream or Greek yoghurt.

Goodness shared from Stacey