food

I love reading menus and trying new food. And doing it with "lovely strangers" on a Wednesday afternoon after two hours at traffic court...perfection.  There was a mini blogging reunion here today that I hoped to be at, but something I'm far beyond excited about kept me away. Watching four children under four.  Not your dream come true?  Well...while not exciting in & of itself, this is far more than exciting or any other inadequate & humdrum word when it represents a sister who is moving not just into my city, not just into my block, but three streets over...truly a dream come true. Mandi is an amazing mother, an amazing cook, an amazing housekeeper (the girl knows how to clean) and she sincerely loves my boys as much as I do (and sometimes More on my thin patience days). Perfect neighbor material.  I have never in my married life lived this close to a sibling...shared a ward...shared a pan of lasagna...shared a cup of sugar.

So, instead of eating lunch with these blogging sistas (which I do hope to do sometime soon), I microwaved hotdogs for the kids and settled on cheese crisp for myself. I will admit to perusing their eat spot menu online. I would have ordered the Apple Spinach with Chicken. Full description: A bed of spinach leaves topped with apple slices, grilled chicken, bacon, spiced feta cheese, red onions, mushrooms and toasted almonds. Served with garlic bread. Suggested dressing: poppy seed or honey mustard. I love reading descriptions of food, dreaming of perfect combinations, awed when the descriptions sound disturbing but manage to blend into beauty. I bless the internet that allows me to imagine savoring something other than cheese crisp.  I just wish I could have had "full description" of the table conversation as well. 

Aidan, Savvy & I created a bit of our own food beauty this afternoon with a Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake. I bought fresh blueberries last week when Grandma Scott was visiting, but we never used them. Savannah's birthday is tomorrow, so we made this her practice cake. The singing was perfect, and she blew out the air like a pro. My camera was blitzing ("memory stick error"?!), but I found this picture of the treat on allrecipes. When Jim came home and tried some tonight he said, "Why haven't you ever made this for me before?" Um..I've made it for brunches...thought I had shared, but some leftovers are certainly meant for selfish hoarding...and some recipes are far too tantalizing to be made at home where you know you'll end up eating far more than you should.

Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake 

Cake:

1 cup butter, softened                   1 5/8 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar                         1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs                                           1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream                          1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling/Topping:

1/2 cup brown sugar                      1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon        1 Tablespoon confectioner’s sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour a 9-inch Bundt pan. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the sour cream and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir in to the batter just until blended. Fold in blueberries. Spoon half of the batter into the prepared pan.

In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Sprinkle half of the mixture over the batter in the pan. Spoon remaining batter over the top, and then sprinkle the remaining pecan mixture over. Use a knife or thin spatula to swirl the sugar layer into the cake. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the crown of the cake comes out clean.

Cool in the pan over a wire rack . Invert onto a serving plate, and tap firmly to remove from the pan. Dust with the confectioners’ sugar just before serving.

Comments

[Cyn]

While you were watching the kids, Mandi and I had a leisurely lunch at Carrabas, relaxing massages at the spa and a shopping trip to the mall. Oh, you thought we were packing? Well, we were but only because you made us feel guilty before you drove off with the four little hobbits. Mandi kept commenting how easy everything was without kids and I kindof missed them. Cyn

[Elizabeth]

I am making that one for sure. I have fresh blueberries right now. So sad you missed a blogger lunch. But what good news about your sister.

[Shawna B.]

I love food descriptions too! I even try to write my own in my mind, particularly after a good meal. Unfortunately, on too many occasions, the food descriptions after a hurried evening meal at my place might read, "Under coooked pasta topped by a bland red sauce, paired with dull salad greens and limp carrots." I am going to do better! :)

CONGRATS on your new neighbor!!! So happy for you! What I wouldn't give to have one of my sisters close by ... heaven is sharing a pan of lasagne and a cup of sugar. Here's to mnay happy times together!

[carlo]

so much goodness in this post-- your obvious excitement for your sis, the yummy food and the recipe (yay!) and the wonderful notion of sharing a pan of lasagne. i love it!

so sorry you missed the blog lunch. i am envious, too, when i read about the wonderful opportunities people have to meet others we "gather" with weekly. (daily?? lol) some day, right?

[Megan]

I'm doing an Elvis Presley curled lip scowl right now. I want a sister neighbor! :( I guess I'll settle for my Betsy right now. Who lives ten minutes away.

[lelly]

two of my three sisters live in my town, and we have grown soooo much closer over the past few years. i try not to take it for granted!

blueberry sour cream coffee cake sounds like Easter morning breakfast, to me! thanks for sharing.

[Susan]

I too wish that I had a sister minutes away. For now I will settle for phone calls from my sisters.

[Mandy]

I would love to have a brother or sister close by me. They are only a couple of hours away,but too far to just go shopping with. I am so glad Mandi is moving right by you. That will be so much fun!

thanks for the recipe. Looks yummy!

[Jordan]

You were sorely missed, but who can beat siblings a skip away and sour cream cake? Wish we could have lunched chez vous!! We WILL meet soon, I can feel it in the air.

[Sheri]

Hey Amy- thats great about Mandy. My brother is moving two houses away from us at the end of the month. They have a little boy Wyatt's age so I am excited about that.

That cake looks and sounds yummy. Keep those recipes coming! Thanks for sharing.

[Kelly]

I was sad to hear you missed the lunch. But, all in the support of a very good cause. I would love to have Josh 3 streets over from me. I guess this means you'll never move to Oregon?? I know, I know, that was never in the cards anyway. But, I like to dream that Jim would be drawn to the challenge of the hilly land.

Your recipe looks delightful, as always. We love blueberries, and I'm thinking of planting some of my own for a blueberry filled summer.

[Amy]

I like that dream too if it means living in a clime where "planting some of my own" blueberries is a remote possibility. And Hydrangeas. We're definitely a bit limited on the growth possibilities, and I'll be damned if I ever convert to finding beauty in a cactus xeriscape.

[sista #2]

Amy -you crack me up! I would love for you to come over. You may love the 'tuscany villas' that dot the desert up here - but sounds like you'll gag on my natural scenery! (except for the city lights)haha

Food - Thanx for the recipe -I think I will add this
to the menu for the baby shower brunch I'm hosting this Saturday. Looks divine & I don't
need complicated right now! -ciao

let's also have lunch sometime ;) nice to chat with you on the phone.

[Emily]

Yum! I guess I'll have to wait a few days (at least 2) before making it since I just made banana cake with burnt butter frosting last night. (did I mention I ate two pieces last night and had one for breakfast this morning...hey, it has bananas in it, that's healthy right, lol) Thanks so much for sharing.

And, I am so happy that you get to live by your sis! That would be a dream come true. Lucky you!

[jenny c.]

We really missed you. And I am SERIOUSLY going to have you make my kids cake and FOR SURE pay for them when I come back. That recipe looks fab!

[amy m]

So sorry you were unable to attend your blog lunch, but great news about your sister living so close. Lucky you.

[Barb]

What a pretty cake on such a pretty plate. We're having blueberry pancakes for supper tonight - I keep it simple when my DH works late.

[Michelle A.]

Wow - the blueberry cake looks really good! The blueberries up here in Quebec are on sale now - I'll have to give you recipe a try!

[Annalisa]

Scrumptous. This is why I don't bake. I eat :).
Sorry you missed the blogging lunch, but hey it's worth it to get a sister as a neighbor.

[Jill]

It's seriously sad that you didn't get to meet your fellow bloggers for a tasty lunch out, but what a great reason not to go! You must be giddy!

That cake looks fantastic. Can it be made without a bundt pan?

[Amy]

I'm sure it would work in a 9x9 pan, Jill. I'm just a huge bundt pan fan.

[Michelle]

Amy, this recipe looks yummy! I am going to give it a try.

[kristi]

St. Patrick's Day is here, you see.
We'll pick some shamrocks, one, two, three.
We'll count the leaves and look them over,
And maybe find a four-leafed clover.
I'll sew green buttons on my vest,
Green for St. Patrick is the best.
I'll wear a green hat, very high,
And dance a jig--at least I'll try!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!