Cake, I Love You

Cake, I love you. Saints, I love you. Mardi Gras, I love you. So many love letters to write, so little time. Discovered the most wonderful new cookbook, an unabashed testament to the power of cake. Jill O’Connor wrote Cake I Love You which has just cake after cake after cake, and tons of insider […]

Cardamom Coffee Cake with Crumb Topping

Why is there comfort in tradition? One holiday tradition in my family is to serve coffee cake or cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning, with a steaming hot cup of coffee. On Christmas Eve, we exchange new pairs of pajamas and wear them for the next 25-72 hours. We watch Muppet Christmas Carol. When the pajamas […]

Sour Cream Pumpkin Bundt Cake and The Giver

I think if I watch The Giver movie several more times I’ll have the secret of life. What a well-wrought tale, and beautifully filmed this year. One takeaway for me on this last viewing was to champion the hot and colds real life affords, alternative to the temperate climate of a benign life with its […]

Happy Birthday to Me Coffee Cake

To quote from Rafa Nadal’s Australian Open concession speech yesterday, “You make feel [me] like home.” Thanks to all the family and friends whose cards, gifts and calls have warmed my heart which would otherwise be frozen by the current Minnesota climate colder than Mars. In particular, I want to thank Izzy for not eating […]

Coffeecake in Twisted Coil with Sweet Cheese Filling

 Speed post.  Coffeecake in Twisted Coil with Sweet Cheese Filling Baking Illustrated Rich Coffeecake Dough 4 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast (2 envelopes ) 1/4 cup warm water (about 110 F) 1/2 cup granulated sugar (3 1/2 ounces) 4 large eggs 2 tablespoons milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (21 1/4 […]

Coffee Cake Muffins

Stop Everything. And look at me. The muffin I am about to share with you is literally the Best Muffin I Have Ever Had. After my first bite, I had to close my eyes, bow my head and brace my temples between thumb and forefinger. Thank you Lord, for the gift of the perfect muffin, […]