But Zowie Crump has received more concrete validation for her cooking skills this week, winning the Melbourne Royal Show’s Best Sponge Exhibit award for the second time.
She had two entries in the running for the big award, having placed first in the plain and chocolate sponge sections.
It was her traditional sponge sandwich which won over the judges in the end.
“Cake is good colour. Even in size top and bottom. Excellent flavour,” her feedback read.
Technically a back-to-back champion, Ms Crump won the same award in 2019 with her chocolate sponge.
She also had a ginger fluff sponge entered in the show this year, and won second prize in that category.
Ms Crump has been working to perfect her sponge cake for a long time, and says they can be highly sought after locally.
She makes and donates sponges every year to raise money for charity, with this year’s charity cake getting a personal best record.
“I’ve been making them for about 10 years.
“My pop, Bill Crump, always loved them and would eat all the rejects.
“Unfortunately he passed away before I got my first win.
“I choose a different charity each year and auction a sponge cake off on my The Art of Zowie Photography Facebook page.
“This year was for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, and it made $325.”
Ms Crump says there’s a secret to her award-winning sponge, but not one she’s willing to share just yet.
But she did say it has taken a lot of experimenting to get to this point.
“I read lots of different recipes, and it took a lot of trail and error,” she said.
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