Desperation sponge

This is a recipe for those evenings when you just NEED dessert, but have very few ingredients or energy to fetch them/persuade someone else to fetch them for you. The basic idea came from a "Microwave Cuisine" book someone bought my parents when they got married, so it's clearly a classic. It turns out similar to a British-style steamed pudding, very dense and satisfying, but doesn't last particularly well, so it is imperative you eat it all straight away. Not that you will need much encouragement. You can flavour it with anything you have to hand - dried fruit, chocolate, nuts, golden syrup, jam or marmalade are all good. This makes enough for 2 people, or 1 person who has had a truly awful day. 


Desperation sponge


50g self-raising flour
50g butter/margarine, softened
50g sugar
1 egg
50 g delicious things (raisins! jam! nuts! chocolate! anything your pantry can supply)


Grease a microwavable bowl - bear in mind the mixture might rise a little when you cook it. Throw the flour, butter and sugar in, and rub them together using your hands until the mixture starts to look like breadcrumbs. Stir in the egg and delicious things. At this point you will be thinking "there is no way this mixture will be moist and delicious when cooked", but fear not. 


Microwave on full for 4 minutes, then leave it to stand for 5 minutes. Tuck in!