Monday, September 5, 2011

Coffe Cake for Sunday

Yesterday was our first cooler day in a very long time. We had just a few drops of rain.

I milked. Willow is way down in production. I think it is due to the extreme heat and dry conditions. Most cows will not graze out in the sun and I don't buy alfalfa to feed her when we have grass even though it isn't the best forage right now. The name of this game, is to have good,raw milk without it costing us more than store milk.

I made one of our favorite coffee cakes. This recipe is found on King Arthur's website and I have made it several times. I don't use a tube pan but I do use my spring-form pan. That means you have to increase the baking time by about 10 minutes. I always test with a toothpick first.



Cake
1/2 cup shortening*
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream

Topping
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Cream shortening, sugar and eggs. Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream.

Grease and flour a regular-sized tube pan**. Spread half the batter in the pan, and sprinkle with half the topping mixture. Repeat with remaining batter and topping.

Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cake tests done. Cool 10 to 15 minutes, and remove cake from pan. Place cake right-side-up (topping up) on a plate to serve.

*I usually use a butter-flavored shortening, or margarine.

**I make this in a 9 x13-inch pan if it's for family, and just serve it right from the pan in squares.

Note: This coffeecake is also delicious made with plain or vanilla yogurt, or buttermilk. If you bake it early in the morning, you can carry it outside for an al fresco breakfast before work!

If you make this in a 9 x 13-inch pan -- a handy, stable size for transporting to picnics or potlucks -- be aware that you'll have to spread the batter quite thinly to cover the bottom of the pan. Spoon half into the pan, using a rubber spatula to spread batter out evenly; sprinkle on half the topping; then drop the remaining batter, in spoonfuls, on top. Don't bother to try to spread it around; just sprinkle with the rest of the topping. Cake will puff up and look fine by the time it's done.
Nutrition information per serving (1/20 of recipe, 51 g): 188 cal, 9 g fat, 2 g protein, 10 g complex carbohydrates, 14 g sugar, 1 g dietary fiber, 31 mg cholesterol, 137 mg sodium, 45 mg potassium, 1 mg iron, 52 mg calcium, 41 mg phosphorus. Note: using lowfat yogurt or lowfat buttermilk in place of sour cream will lower fat to 7 g.

My Note: I always use butter when it calls for shortening.

We have decided this is the year to replace our l970's era carpet in the living room and bedroom. DH wants the new shag which will always be the 'old' shag to me.
We had it in our first house! Nothing is new under the sun.......
We are going for a darker, blended color tweedy thing so DH's coffee dribbles won't drive me insane. It is hard for me to make decisions so I will probably just let him select it. It will make our old living room furniture look so bad....I am hoping to replace most of it next year. "Lord willing and the creek don't rise" as Mom used to say.

We have nothing planned for the holiday. I really should do some real housecleaning for a change.

8 comments:

  1. Glenda, this is one of MY FAVORITES!! I could really go for a slice with my coffee this morning!...:)JP

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  2. I could almost taste that coffeecake!

    Know what you mean about shag carpet. We had some in our house in Indiana -- yellow, white, orange and green! Of course the white absorbed every spill and Hubs drips his coffee too. Must be a "man thing".

    We had a cool day yesterday, too, and are supposed to have several in a row. Had a little rain but not even enough to wet the ground, so had to water. I think I've lost my Jacob Kline, but everything else is OK so far. Oh it was so windy yesterday. I hope it's cool AND calm today.

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  3. That looks so yummy and a perfect thing to go with coffee.

    Good luck on choosing the carpet. I'm sure you'll enjoy the new look.

    We don't have anything planned for today either. It is usually the day we do our errands, they will wait until tomorrow.

    Have a good day and a nice week ~ FlowerLady

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  4. When I moved into this house they had an orangey-cinnamon colored shag carpet in the living room and a nasty green shag in the bedrooms - just awful. Luckily the hardwood floors underneath were in good shape. Now I just use area rugs/carpets.

    Your post brought up memories of when I was growing up we had a wonderful neighbor, Ruth, who use to bake the most wonderful coffee cakes. Hope yours makes memories for your family. :-D

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  5. I can smell that coffeecake cooking... cause I just stirred your recipe up and that's what we're having too! You will love that new carpet, never thought of letting hubby pick the color! It's a coooool 53 here this morning, feels like a refrigerator!!!

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  6. Love that coffee cake and your photo looks like I could just reach through the screen and grab a hunk!

    I have shag in one bedroom and the office and sure do need to replace it-was here when we moved in 1979-and I didn't like it then. The only thing holding me back is moving out all the furniture!!

    Enjoying the cooler weather. DH has gone to an auction and I am doing laundry and will stamp some in between. Girls were both here yesterday so no company today unless the youngest stops by-oldest one is laboring today!!

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  7. I love that recipe. I don't care for cake that has sweet, gooey icing and this is perfect.

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