Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Coffee Cake Muffins


Growing up, there was a certain German Coffee Cake I would wake up smelling on special mornings. (But really, what morning isn't special when you wake up to homemade coffee cake?) One of Mom's (many) specialties, it's relatively easy and extremely tasty, and a recipe I reach for often. Especially when the kids are begging me to bake, early on a Saturday morning. If I haven't got the energy for rolling out and cutting biscuits or scones, or the patience to man the pancake station, it's a good bet I can still be convinced to get a coffee cake in the oven because of the smell alone. Very comforting. Very house-filling.

Mom's recipe came from Fredericksburg, Texas in the 1960's and it's a good one. This is not that recipe, exactly... Last week, on Morning 5 of drivemomcrazyweek -- I mean SPRING BREAK, I asked the kiddos what they wanted for breakfast (a practice I do not necessarily recommend), and was answered with a surprisingly united chant: "MUFFINS, MUFFINS, MUFFINS!" Like they had planned it or something.

We didn't have berries on hand, or bran cereal or poppy seeds or anything I usually put in a muffin. So, I immediately thought of Mom's German Coffee Cake. In muffin form! Quick and simple and satisfying. And because, apparently, I cannot leave well-enough alone, adapted. Just a little.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Caramelized Pear & Bacon Scones


You're welcome. (And, I'm sorry!)


I'm thinking my first cookbook will be Scones 101. I love 'em. Because, what can't you put in a scone and call a meal? And hold it all in one hand, no less. Breakfast, lunch, dinner? Scone. Snack? Scone. Fruit, grain, meat, dairy? Scone, scone, scone, scone.

Okay. Maybe not. But these are good, and I think you oughta try them.

Ingredients
6-8 slices bacon
3 firm D'Anjou pears, peeled, cored & diced
1 TB vegetable oil
2 TB brown sugar
2 c. all-purpouse flour
2 TB flaxseed meal
1 TB baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
8 TB cold, unsalted butter, cubed
3/4 c. chilled cream or half & half

egg white (optional)
course sugar (optional)