High School Reunion. Three words to strike fear into the hearts of people everywhere. When I was messaged on facebook by High School pals earlier this year about the idea of having a High School Reunion in December I thought “Dear God No!” and then thought that it was so far away that I never even thought about it. Fast Forward 11 months later and we’re only days away from D Day. I had a bit of an idea what it would be like, the reunion before was all about “What job do you have?” and I knew this one would be all about “How many children do you have?” and I had the feeling that “None. Thankyou very much for inquiring” would not suffice and would only garner me sympathetic looks. Any protests from me saying “No really, it’s fine, I’m not pining for any” would only have girls clucking even more sympathetically and god forbid a shoulder squeeze or even worse a hug given with furrowed brow and pout and a faux reassuring “Suure”.
I figured I already kept in touch with the ones that I wanted to but of course there was a morbid curiousity about how everyone had turned out. I swayed between “Oh screw it, just go” to “I’d rather gnaw on my arm”. Mr NQN asked me if I was going and depending on the day or hour or minute my answer would be one of the two. I busied myself thinking of other things including making this cake, a cake that I immediately bookmarked in the new Donna Day Seasons cookbook which is a collection of the best of Donna Hay magazine. It’s a gorgeous tome and it’s full of Post It Notes (about 36) and Donna was kind enough to send me a signed copy!
I thought of the pros and cons of going while making the syrup. A Pro: most of the people were quite nice at my school. There were only a few I didn’t like and the number was so tiny they’d barely fit on one hand-in fact there were only two girls out of a hundred that I’d say I wouldn’t bother to say hello to. I thought of the cons while mixing the cake part. Of course the questions “Why did you leave advertising?” “Why don’t you have kids, really?” and “What is a blog? Isn’t that like Perez Hilton or something?”. Was I up to it? Even while writing this story I’ve bounced back and forth.
Aww thanks Donna! 
I took out the cake and let it rest for a bit and then pricked it all over and then poured over all of the syrup and then cut into it. It was gorgeously moist and soft with the ever, ever so slight tang from the yogurt which helps to balance it out. I then recalled with a chuckle how one of those girls got herself a nose job straight after High School and realised that revenge is not just a dish best served cold, it’s one where it’s best if it’s self inflicted.
Served the next day with Liss’s amazing passionfruit butter
So tell me Dear Reader, did you go to your High School Reunion?
And you guessed it, it’s Wallpaper Wednesday again! Here is a Bakewell Tart for your viewing pleasure
Yoghurt Passionfruit Syrup Cake
- 150g butter softened
- 1 cup (220g) caster or superfine sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup (280g) Greek style natural yogurt
- 2 cups (300g) self raising flour, sifted
For syrup
- 1 cup (250ml) passionfruit pulp
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup sugar
1. Preheat the oven to 160c/320F. Make the passionfruit syrup by placing the passionfruit pulp, water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir until sugar dissolves and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and cook for 10-15 minutes, uncovered until thick and syrupy. Set aside.
2. Place butter, sugar and vanilla is he bowl of an electric mixer and beat until pale and creamy. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Add yogurt and beat until well combined. Fold through flour. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 24cm Bundt tin and bake for 35 minutes until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool for 20 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack. Gently poke holes with a thin skewer and then pour passionfruit syrup over the cake. Serve fresh and warm and swoon.
Adapted from Donna Hay “Seasons”.
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72 Comments | Add your own
Hehe. I know what you mean, even now when I meet up with old highschool friends it’s all about ’so who are you going out with?’. Which is why I just tend to keep in touch with the few people I was actually close to back then. I would still probably go if it was a huge reunion though.. but I may be singing a different tune in the future. Did you go in the end?
And ohmygod I love Donna Hay. I should get this cookbook, I already know it will be so food porn worthy!
When it comes to high school reunions I vacillate between wanting to go or not. I agree with you Lorraine, I’ve kept in touch with everyone I wanted to, but there is always that curiosity as to the others!
This cake is so pretty, I love the black specks from the passionfruit!
The date for my ten year school reunion is next year. No school reunion has been organised yet and I am not disappointed. If one was organised I might feel obliged to attend.
Did you go or not ? I didn’t go to the five or ten year reunions but next year it will have been twenty years and I will seriously consider it. I’ve just lost 10kg for a wedding so I’m ready for a school reunion now
If you came to a twenty year reunion without children I’m fairly certain sniping would actually be envy. I love yoghurt cake, that recipe is a keeper, except I don’t like chewing passionfruit pips…
Thinking about high school reunions makes me sweat. I have kept in touch with some of them. Do you notice that the ones that gave you grief are the ones you call by their first and last name? It reminds me of the movie Romy and Michelle. Beautiful cake Lorraine. The passionfruit syrup glistens on top of the Cake. Delicious.
First – that cake looks AMAZING!!! I love the idea of serving it with passionfruit butter – divine
I didn’t go to my high school reunion because I had moved interstate and apparently couldn’t be contacted? I only found out about it after the event – but I must admit – I would have loved to have gone – mainly the curiosity aspect I guess?
hahah! I have the same feeling as you! Those that have kids flooded the facebook with their babies photos, and the only thing they will ask you when they bump into you will always be why dun you have kids??!! No more hello, no more how are you!!! What happen to them?!!!
This looks like a gorgeous cake.
Hi there,
Just wanted to ask if you used fresh passionfruit pulp or if the canned variety would be ok?
Thanks
Fruit based syrup cakes are fast becoming my favourite addiction. This one looks tantalising and pretty easy. Thankyou!!
Let us know if you decide to go.
Oh my stars. I did go to my high school reunion and made the terrible mistake of drinking two bottles of Champagne with my best friend BEFORE we got there. I also made the mistake of wearing a black dress and heels, only to be greeted my a room full of t-shirt wearing mums. Not my finest hour!
Ooooh – this is one of the recipes I have bookmarked from Seasons as well! It looks fabulous! There are so many I want to do – the chocolate meringue layer cake is also up there! But the entire book is amazing. She is so talented and it’s a fantastic buy!
Yes, I went to my 10-year high school reunion three years ago and two girls had a cat fight! Hilarious… but I have to say, it was sufficiently unpleasant enough to vow I won’t go to any others – as you say, NQN, you’ve stayed in touch with the people you wanted to…
Good luck
ps YUM! That cake looks delish
Ahh Lorraine, that is one moist looking cake! And high school reunions are scary… so when is this high school reunion of yours?
Oh My That cake looks so gorgoeus and so tempting to eat. Simple and nice cake to make. Thanks Lorraine for sharing!
Yes I did and I became the popular “after” high schooler, which remains to this day. Now during high school, I hung with the misfit crowd. So now it seems all of my class follows me on face book and more than a few subscribe to my blog. It’s so very strange. Everything I wanted in highschool I got later and then it didn’t matter. So you left us hanging. Did you go? You should go, really and blog the whole thing!
So.. have you decided to go?! Hehe. Karma is a bitch! I went to my five year reunion, which was pretty pointless.. with facebook these days, I don’t think we really need to have reunions!
Short (boring) tip: Thankyou is a noun (”I sent her a quick thankyou card”).
“Thank” as in “Thank you” is a verb.
Sorry – one of the common bugbears like uninterested and disinterested… everyone gets that wrong.
Keep up the good work: 8/10
I have never been to a high school reunion, but I once went to a grade one reunion (because we were the first grade one class at a new primary school) and it was excruciating. Of course we were all around 15 by then, and hideously self-conscious and embarassed. Maybe if we’d had some of that delicious cake, it may have gone better?
Hmm…my advice re the school reunion is that they get better. The older you get the more relaxed everyone gets. What starts out as really competitive point scoring eventually becomes laid back acceptance and genuine interest in see what sort of person X turned out to be, what sort of life she has had, etc. That said, some people still never get it and do bizarre things every year. Just chill out and enjoy it (if you go).
What a yummy looking cake! And I just received this book in the mail yesterday – will have to make this!!!
I went to my recent high school reunion – I said for months I wouldn’t, then I thought, “what the hell” and went. And sure, it wasn’t all hugs and kisses (hey, why should it change after all these years?), but I was pleasantly surprised by a few people and came away feeling far warmer and fuzzier about them than I have for these last 20 years. That alone made it worth it.
Hi, Lorraine
I really enjoyed reading this post..I think anyone can relate to this.
I don’t go to HS reunion..I prefer a simple get together with my HS friends:)
BTW, I love that cake..so moist!
oooh…yum!!! That cake looks amazingly yummy!
Thanks for sharing 
I was invited to my 6 year reunion (they couldn’t do a 5 year reunion for some reason), but I didn’t go, because I was only at that school for a year – and I didn’t really fit in too well…so, yes, I didn’t go! Short answer… LOL
My 10 year high school reunion was organised late, so it ended up being an 11 year reunion. I didn’t go, partly because I didn’t like how it was at a pub! I’m no snob, but I thought such an occasion would warrant more fanfare. As with you, I’ve kept in touch with the people I want to and I also wanted to avoid multiple questions – “So what is that you studied at uni? Oh…I’ve never heard of that!” and, “You’re not working right now? But why?” or perhaps, “And no kids? I’m onto my third!”
Eek. I think I’ve had this conversation with you before – but I share the same feelings about reunions! Gosh, so much brain overload talk of children and schools.
Ditched my high school reunion twice now – both due to other circumstances, but no regrets! I’d like to leave my positive experiences of high school right where I had them! I still have school friends in my life.
You know, I have just planted 7 passionfruit vines (4 varieties) upon the back fence, so next year Lorraine, you’ll need a lot more recipes – we’ll have A LOT of fruit!!
If anyone wants the lemon passionfuit butter recipe – it’s my Nans’ – and shared here
http://www.frillsinthehills.com/2009/07/my-nans-recipe-for-lemon-butter-old.html
That cake looks sooo yum!
Next year is my 10 year high school reunion… and really, I am in the no pile at this stage! I keep in touch with everyone I want to see from high school, theres facebook for the rest who are curious, and if I dont have them on facebook, then I really didnt like them in the first place! I think a night of saying, yes I have a boyfriend, no we arent married yet, yes we will get married, no we dont have kids, no we dont know if we want kids and trying to explain my job, doesnt seem like that much fun!
Fabulous looking cake! I find that people generally just want to talk about themselves and asking about you is just a courtesy before they can tell you all about themselves. So go and enjoy yourself and do as any good politician would and answer the question that you wish they would have asked. xoxo Mum
Drooling at the sight of that cake..hmmm I might have to check out Donna’s new book, I really love her chocolate one but not many others.
I remember vaguely having discussions that we went to the same school, so I totally agree that of all school reunions to be at, our girls aren’t all that bad
That said though, my 5 year was a few months back and it was rather dissapointing how the same cliques hadn’t changed and if we were all in our brown again, it would’ve been like school lunch time all over..
I missed the 25 year reunion because no-one could find me, but have subsequently made contact with some of the more interesting people via facebook. I was always shy at school and was the girlie swat. I now have a fairly high profile job and have done quite well for myself so enjoy surprising those who had a preconceived view of me. I even had a child at nearly 39 – which shocked everyone!! I’m also back to my weight at 17 and look better than I did then – so all in all I can cope with seeing anyone from school – they’re generally fatter, older and balder!! And I’m happy too.
I have avoided all my school reunions and I am not sorry I have done so. I keep in touch with those friends from my school days that are important to me (thanks Facebook this is soo much easier now).
That cooks looks so good. Have to try out that recipe now. I went for my 20th HS reunion ( showing my age)? It was good catching up. We had a FB page organising the event. There was the usual angst of those who had become SAHMs and feeling like losers comparing themselves to the high achieving career women. In the end, someone put up a post on living and dying. I went to a school where every girl, as far as I know, was proud to be an alumni of. This school does not exist anymore. She just prompted us to live life to the fullest as with time, there may be less of us around. To get together to remember the good times, and also the values that our school instilled in us and to disregard the petty stuff; how much fatter, or richer or poorer, etc. we now were. I went and glad I did as I caught up with so many I had lost touch with (I had emigrated to Australia). Got to know some better, as they shared their stories of where they were at. Stories of busy lifes with families, stories of struggles with infertility. It was good, maybe because we’re older now. 10 years ago might have been a different story.
Cake – YES!
Reunion – NO!
Short, but sweet. Like the life of that cake if it were within my grasp.
I have never gone to a high school reunion. It would put me into a cold sweat, but I don’t even get the notices for them(!). I’m going to assume that it’s because I moved away and didn’t stay findable…?
The cakes looks and sounds wonderful.
So, are you going???
Yum, what a gorgeous cake! I want a slice. Bookmarking this for later.
I’m of the arm-gnawing persuasion when it comes to reliving high school in any way — even for a night! Eep!
I think you should go and be your fashionable, successful self, though! You’ll wow them.
Since I’m still in high school, there’s no way I could have gone to a reunion ;D, but I can only dream about where everyone would be! I say go, because if you miss it, its gone. If there are any problems, no one says you have to see them again. We’re judged everyday, so who cares if we’re re-judged by some old/former friends. Maybe you’ll learn something about yourself! Plus, everyone is probably feeling the same way =D.
Whatever you do, Lorraine, you rock. You’re a part of my (and many others) daily life. Who knows – maybe a couple of those people read this blog but don’t realize that its you! Good luck xoxo
I love passion fruit. That cake must taste heavenly and be so moist!
Cheers,
Rosa
I not only went to my 36 year High School Reunion in March of this year, I also located some of our Classmates and continue to try and locate some of the missing ones for our 37 year All Girls High School that I went to in San Francisco. We had 20 attend in March, and if all that have been located attend in March 2010 there will be 40. Time goes by so fast that it seems one minute you are hugging and saying hi and the next you are hugging and saying goodbye, see you next time. I put together my second Blog ever, for the purpose of our High School reunion and all loved it. I added music from the day (1973) and the first name of each Classmate in the array of photos that several of us took and are the Blog. I used our group photo that I set up at our Classmates home for our header photo. We had a blast, and 4 months later I helped locate Classmates and put together my 40 year Elementary School Reunion. Have fun and go. There will be those that you really connect with and those that you may not. Who cares, as it usually goes very smoothly. Blogs are very popular, but not many know how to do them that were in my schools. Have your Classmates send their photos to you and create a blog as I did. They will love it. I can give you my simple Blog address if you would like to see what I did. You are so much more creative than I. See if they want a group photo and take your tripod and do the photo if no one else will. You have a camera that I would love to have and you take great photos.
As for this dessert, it looks wonderful. You did a great job and I love your Blog.
When I looked at the photo, I thought it was a “baba au rhum” but your passion glaze sounds a thousand times more delicious!
The cake looks lovely, but as for the reunion, I’d rather poke myself in the eye with a sharp stick.
What a beautiful distraction cake.
My 10 year reunion was this year, and I had made plans to go (involves a 4.5 hour drive there) and gotten the weekend free from work, and then the stupid girl who organised it cancelled it with 3 days to go because (as I later discovered) she had something better to do! It was rescheduled to a day I couldn’t make, so I missed it. I plan to organise a very low key renegade catch up to make up for it
Looks like a lovely summery cake! I reckon you might as well go to the reunion, there’s sure to be at least a few interesting people.
So pretty! Looks so yum.
That is one drop-dead gorgeous cake! And nope, I did not go to my high school reunion. I’d rather eat cake instead.
Ahhh the highschool reunion dilemna! My 10 year reunion is on the 27/12 this year and unfortunately (or fortunately, I haven’t decided yet!) I won’t be able to make it because we have to be back home for Hubby’s work early the next morning.
Your cake looks beautiful and with Liss’s passionfruit butter mmmmmmmm. Thanks for posting the link to the recipe Liss, don’t know how I’ve missed it before!
The cake is stunning! And I just went to my first high school reunion: the 30th (still can’t believe it’s been 30 years!). It was a blast! 200 of us and not one person asked “what do you do and how many kids do you have!” It was like we were all 18 again but 10 times better and more fun! Now we are all FB friends and planning a huge 50th birthday party for all of us next summer.
lol i know how you feel in regards to the high school reunion! nightmare.. i’m recently got cancelled due to lack of interest haha!
Omg that cake looks delicious! My boyfriend loves passionfruit and moist cakes so I think I’ll be making this for him
As for high school reunions, my school had a 1 year reunion (don’t really know why they bothered, no one had really changed) but I’m sort of looking forward to my 5 year reunion to see how everyone’s turned out…
Great cake. Donna Hay was in Brisbane yesterday signing her Seasons book. Looks like a good reference.
Definitely would not do a high school reunion. Never. Left that behind, YEARS! ago.
Gorgeous cake, though I have to admit that I’m not a huge fan of passionfruit… my SO loves it though so it’ll be something on my list to try!
I had the option of going to my 10 year high school reunion this year but I skipped it – then again I didn’t like 99% of the people I went to HS with so that was an easy decision!
I’ve avoided every school reunion thus far. I also try to deflect friend requests from people I never talked to in high school on Facebook. I’m afraid I’m as antisocial now as I was back then!
Gorgeous cake and serving it up with passionfruit butter, wow! Went to a few HS reunions, curiosity satisfied but realised there WAS a reason why we didn’t stay in touch. But I think you should go and proudly show how successful you’ve become!
I went to my 10th and had a blast! Skipped the 20th, I had just lost my husband, no 25th scheduled, so headed towards my 30th. Man, I am OLD!
Your cake is so pretty!!
I think a lot when I bake too…..
I’ve never been to a high school reunion (since I’m still in high school….haha) but I’ve always though they would be really fun- didn’t realise that there were cons though!
Funny post. I was a stay-at-home mom and at my reunions everybody else would get up and be the President of something or running for Congress!
I have a big container of passion fruit puree in my freezer right now. Am going to use it to make your delicious cake.
Now I want cake instead of breakfast!
There is a girl in Australia looking for a cookie exchange partner, so if you want to I can pair you up with her! But if you don’t have the time, not a worry at all!
i would think that your fellow graduates would feel mostly jealous about what you’ve achieved with your blog. stand proud, lorraine!
awesome cake, by the way–very unique.
lovely moist looking cake !! I hope youve made up your mind
) i went to so many different schools I don’t know which I really belong to…:D
wow. passionfruit. first pommegranate, now passion fruit! Yknow, I love it when recipes include ingredients that aren’t used tradtionally. Have you ever thought of doing something with dragon fruit, persimmons or jackfruit?
-That is one sexy looking hunk of butter…but on to more important things…
-You had me at Passionfruit. Anything with Passionfruit is a yes!
-I didn’t know about the new Donna Hay book. She is amazing. I must get this.
ps: I did not attend my high school reuinion. I loathed highschool (I was/am such a nerd) and hope to never see those awful people EVER again!!!
I love reunions, it’s always nice to see how ppl change over time. The cake looks amazing!
I doubt I will ever get an invite to a reunion which suits me fine!
I went to school for the longest in West Australia but left there in grade 9.
Next was Tassie for six years with grade 10 finished in a tiny town where my parents still live. Then grade 12 was finished at a big city school with at least 600 in our grade …most people I dont even keep in touch with anymore. So noooo reunion for me yay!
What a stunner, Lorraine! The passionfruit pulp makes this a visual feast. I actually haven’t had a reunion come up yet, but probably will if an invitation finds its way to me. Even though my HS did have some unpleasant kids, I like my hometown and wouldn’t mind a dose of nostalgia.
Gosh! that looks like heaven!
I came to Sydney right after I finish high school in Malaysia
So I have the prefect reason to not attend any of those reunion – “It’s too far away!”
I would still meet up with those that I like everytime I go back to Malaysia though
I’m just back from the shops with my copy of ‘Seasons’ and a shiny, new, fluted cake tin
i know what you mean, the question of ‘when are you getting married?’ continues to crop up amongst my high school friends and it partly drives me up the wall each time.
i’m just waiting to have some free time to dig through this book. i got it straight away when it came out and lol, can’t wait to get to it with the post its!
That is one sexy cake.. I can’t wait to pour that syrup on something!!
Aaah, the mere thought of going to a high school reunion strikes fear into my heart. Like a lot of people, high school was not a good time for me, so to be honest I have no desire to remind myself of that any time soon. Even when I see some of the girls who made my life so unpleasant I feel myself regressing. Yuck.
That cake, on the other hand, looks wonderful and amazing
i made this cake today (saturday, 12th dec) and it is AWESOME!!!
AWESOME!!!!
i don’t usually eat alot of the things i bake, preferring instead to transfer the calories to my all too willing friends and boyfriend (snigger) but i had a pretty sizeable slice of this cake.
it was AWESOME! rather healthful tasting and just so light and CAKEY.
i didn’t have enough passionfruit pulp so i made up the rest of the syrup with lemon juice.
mmmm.
you can really see how awesome i thought the cake was! thanks for posting it.
Yesterday I made the Nectarine Tart with Orange Syrup (’Seasons’ p. 144) and it was divine
this looks great,been wondering what I could bake with passionfruit, got the yoghurt at home too! perfect timing!
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