When the weather predictions call for snow measured in feet, instead of inches, my first instinct is to fire up the oven and get baking. There’s something hard wired in my brain that says copious amounts of time locked inside should be celebrated with sugar, butter, and flour. Luckily, all the ingredients for Cinnamon Cake were safely tucked away in my pantry as SNOMG (thanks Pigtown for this catchy phrase) came barreling into town. I say luckily because if you’ve ever been inside a grocery store the night before a big winter storm around these parts, you know that it’s that last place you want to be. So to kick off the first really big storm of the decade, I rocked it old school with one of the recipes in a random collection of cookbook pages that I got from my grandmother. I have no idea what cookbooks these may have been or exactly how old they are. But trust me, Cinnamon Cake stands up to the test of time. And it makes a great snack when you’ve just freed your car from 2 feet of snow.
Cinnamon Cake
BAH Note: I get all confused when a recipe says sifted flour vs. flour sifted. To me, flour sifted means you measure then sift where sifted flour means you sift then measure. Since I have no great way to sift directly into a measuring cup, I say fluff your flour a bit then measure. Don’t be alarmed when you put the melted butter and cinnamon sugar on top of the batter. The edges of the cake will bake up around it and then it will sink through the batter in places. This end result is similar to a coffee cake without a crumb topping.
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 cup sugar plus 1/2 cup sugar, divided
- 3/4 cup milk
- 2 cups sifted flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 4 tablespoons melted butter plus 5 tablespoons melted butter, divided
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Butter and flour a 9 x 13 pan.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs. Slowly add the 1 1/2 cups sugar and continue to beat until very light.
Add the dry ingredients and milk in several additions, alternating between wet and dry, beginning and ending with the dry.
Add the 4 tablespoons of melted butter and mix until thoroughly blended.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth it out evenly. Drizzle 5 tablespoons of melted butter over the top of the batter.
Combine 1/2 cup sugar with the cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the top of the cake.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a tester comes out with only a crumb or two.
{printable recipe}
Posted in Cooking, Dessert, Food, Photo, Recipe, Retro Recipe, Sweets | Tagged Cinnamon Cake, Retro Recipes, Snow | 6 Comments »
Sometimes I like to break the rules, to see exactly how far I can go before there are consequences. I’m not proud of it, it’s just part of who I am. While I’m doing it, there’s a little voice in my head telling me that I’m just asking for trouble. But I can’t help myself. I’d like to think that I don’t do it as often as I used to. Being young and stupid only works as an excuse for so long. Eventually, you’ve got to ante up and pay the bill. So now I try and be a little more selective about my rebellious moments. Still, if someone says I HAVE to do ‘X’, it makes me WANT to do ‘Y’. See, I told you it’s not pretty. But sometimes breaking the rules is the only thing to do. Continue Reading »
Posted in Breads, Cooking, Food, Photo, Recipe | Tagged Bon Appetit Fast Easy Fresh, Cheese, Consequences, Drop Biscuits, Rebellion | 12 Comments »
The following originally appeared on 9/6/07 at Exit 51
Home Renovation or Teen Angst Movie?
Earlier this year we decided to take on some home improvement projects. When we bought the house, we knew that we wanted to change things but didn’t have the cushion in the bank account. So we saved until we had what we thought was a reasonable budget in hand. Working for an architect as I do, we thought we’d have an inside track on contractors and the process would be smooth.
Silly us. Silly, silly us.
Sure, I was able to get recommendations on some contractors from coworkers. But finding a contractor is kind of like dating. You talk to the contractors and hopefully find one who is interested in your project. Then you set up a meeting to take a look. If you don’t get stood up for that date and the contractor gives you a proposal to do the work then you get to wait around until there’s an opening in his schedule.
That whole process made me as anxious as a 14 year old trying to get the cute boy to notice me. Why won’t they call me back? We had a date on the calendar, why didn’t he show? Ok, he’s been over the house, when am I going to hear back from him? Oh, how long do I have to wait to see him again? See, not too different from dating.
The rational person would just cut their losses and move on to the next name on the list. But I’d rather wait for the right contractor to be available, the one I feel comfortable with who understands what I want the end product to be, than say yes to the first one who says he can start next week. To go back to the dating analogy, it’s trying to date the most popular person in school and then understanding that sometimes you have to decide to be alone for the right reasons than with someone for the wrong ones. (Quick, name that 80’s teen movie!)
This process started back in March. It’s September and I finally got the call last week to say that our job was next on the schedule. It took a while but I feel like I got the date with the cute boy at last. Now, what am I going to wear?
Posted in Flashback Friday, Random | Tagged Dating, Exit 51, Home Renovation, Teen Angst | 10 Comments »
I grew up eating bland food. Very bland food. The only spices I remember being in the house were salt, pepper, cinnamon (sugar), and poultry seasoning. So it has taken me a while to dip my toes into the vast ocean of spices. The folks at Penzey’s do their part to expand my palate with paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper. But one thing I have yet to fully embrace is curry. My taste buds have not been trained to savor the complex flavors, or potentially blinding heat, of curry. Call me a one note gal, or a wimp, but I don’t enjoy food that sets my mouth on fire. Continue Reading »
Posted in Cooking, Fish, Food, Main Course, Photo, Recipe | Tagged Ellie Krieger, Kitchen Confession, Thai Style Fish with Coconut Curry Broth | 8 Comments »
Have I mentioned that I’m bad when it comes to sharing? I must have missed that life lesson because in my mind, what’s mine is mine and you can’t have it. I’m ok with some people borrowing things of mine, but it’s a pretty short list of approved borrowers. And if I think there’s even a remote chance I won’t get it back, then the answer is no. Of course, if you’re willing to put up some collateral then we can negotiate an exchange. Continue Reading »
Posted in Chicken, Cooking, Food, Main Course, Photo, Recipe | Tagged Anne Burrell, Chicken Pot Pie, Food Network, I Love Lucy, Marriage, Sharing, Stingy, Tug of War | 8 Comments »
Here’s another one of my Grandmother’s recipes. It’s amazing that I can make any sense of these things. Actually, if I hadn’t recently asked her to show me how to make this, I’m not sure I could have. And honestly, I’m not quite sure how well I’ve done translating her notes. Here’s what she wrote down: Continue Reading »
Posted in Cooking, Food, Photo, Recipe, Soup | Tagged Chicken Noodle Soup, Homemade Noodles | 9 Comments »
Today’s Food Memories installment is from my sister in law. It’s a perfect example of how our Food Memories can be of something old or something new. Or a little of both. She says:
“I make these for the kids and our guests at the lake; what a treat. Fried with just the powdered sugar topping reminds me of Bockers that my mom used to make us when we were little. Gotta love that junk food.” Continue Reading »
Posted in Breakfast/Brunch, Cooking, Food, Photo, Recipe | Tagged Food Memories, Fried Doughnuts | 7 Comments »
I’m doubling up this week’s Flashback Friday due to last week’s schedule interruption.
****************************
The following post originally appeared on 8/28/07 at Exit 51
$80 Car Wash
Ain’t it the truth – things happen when you’re least ready for them and I swear some things only happen to me. Case in point, I get in my car this week and the check engine light comes on. Absent any obvious signs that the engine is about to blow up, my diagnostic skill are pretty limited. Since the car is only two years old and still under warranty I decide the proper thing to do is get to the dealer. And that’s where I ended up getting an $80 car wash.
When I arrived and explained the reason I was there, the service tech checking me in explained that if the issue was not a covered repair, I would be charged their standard diagnostic fee. Of course I agree since I don’t know the first thing about what goes on under the hood.
So I wait. And I wait. I even watch a movie on my iPod. 90 minutes later, I’m informed that the problem was a loose gas cap. And it just so happens that a loose gas cap is different from a defective gas cap. And that difference could be charged to my Visa or Mastercard. But while I’m waiting for my paperwork to come through to the cashier, would I like my car washed. I figure why the heck not, if I have to hand over my debit card for this bit of automotive wisdom, I might as well get a clean ride out of it. I paid the bill and went out to collect my car expecting it to be shiny and clean inside and out.
And don’t you know, that car was dripping wet and void of any vacuum love. Next time, I think I’ll just take it to the AutoSpa instead. For $80, I could have the entire car cleaned, waxed, and detailed. But I learned a valuable lesson…how to tighten a gas cap (three clicks!)…which I gladly pass along free of charge.
*****************************
And this was the follow up.
The following post originally appeared on 9/1/07 at Exit 51
It’s Not Just Me
Turns out I’m not the only one with gas cap issues. I got the following email from one of my friends:
my mom called me last night. she picked her car up from the VW dealer after having dropped it off yesterday morning because the engine light came on…turns out her gas cap wasn’t on all the way! true story! i almost fell out of my chair. i relayed the $80 carwash bit to her and she thought that was outrageous as well. anyway, i’ve never heard that before and now i’ve heard it twice in the same week. thought i would pass it on. i gave her your 3 click advice.
If car makers have the technology for your car to tell you when your tire pressure is low or email you with service reminders (truth is stranger than fiction), why can’t they come up with a ‘check gas cap’ light?
Posted in Flashback Friday, Random | Tagged Exit 51, It's Not Just Me, Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction | 10 Comments »
screen shot of finecooking.com
Since our break up, I haven’t decided on a replacement for Cook’s Illustrated. I scope out the grocery line to see if any of the other cooking magazines catch my eye with their glossy pages and full color photos. A few I can eliminate straight away. Rachel Ray makes me run from my HDTV. I’m not bringing a pint sized print version of her into my home. Martha Stewart is too fussy for my taste so she can just cool her heels with Miz Ray at the check out counter. I’ve already had a relationship with Cooking Light and I don’t see us getting back together in the near future. Continue Reading »
Posted in Cooking | Tagged Fine Cooking, Shrimp Stew with Coconut Milk Tomatoes and Cilantro | 6 Comments »
I’ve had a library card for about as long as I can remember. Growing up, there were two public libraries within walking distance of my house. But I can’t say that I recall being in them much. A lot of my books were checked out of the school library, not to be opened until I was slung across the wing back chair in the living room. That chair was my favorite place to read. My head rested comfortably up against one of the wings and my legs dangled over the arm. Continue Reading »
Posted in Cooking, Dessert, Photo, Recipe, Sweets | Tagged Book Club, Garlic and Sapphires, Last Minute Chocolate Cake, Ruth Reichl | 15 Comments »
Older Posts »
