New York-Style Crumb Cake

Are you ready for heaven in your mouth? If not, it's time to find something else to read.

Cooks Illustrated has once again found a desert worthy of the utmost praise. This crumb cake is delicious and unlike anything I've ever had. Don't be fooled into thinking this is just another coffee cake. As they aptly explain, there is a big difference between your basic struesel topped coffee cake and this distinctive bad boy of German origin. This cake is all about the crumb topping, formed by hand, much of which settles down into the cake as it cooks resulting in pure crumbly-cakey joy in your mouth.

 

Can I just say, this makes an excellent non-balanced breakfast.

 FYI: I know my food photography is below par, I'm working on it. Soon these images will look far more mouthwatering. Soon...

New York-Style Crumb Cake
adapted from Cooks Illustrated "Best-Ever Recipes" Dec. 2010

Crumb Topping:
1/2 c. (1 stick) melted butter (still warm)
1/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. brown sugar
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. salt
1 3/4 c. cake flour*

Cake:
1 1/4 c. cake flour*
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
6 Tbs. (3/4 stick) butter, cut and slightly softened
1/3 c. buttermilk
1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla
Confectioners' sugar for dusting

For the topping, whisk together the butter, sugars, cinnamon and salt; then stir in the flour until a cohesive dough forms. Set aside to cool while you make the cake.

Heat the oven to 325 and prepare an 8"x8" baking pan by lining it with foil (allow some to hang over the side so you can lift the cake out later) and spraying with non-stick cooking spray.

Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Add the butter, one piece at a time, and mix with a hand-held mixer until the mixture has a moist cornmeal-like consistency and no chunks of butter remain. Add the buttermilk, egg, yolk and vanilla and beat on medium-high for 1-2 minutes, until light and fluffy. Pour the batter into prepared pan and even out with a spatula.

Form the topping by taking the cooled crumb dough and forming large pea-sized crumbs using your thumb and forefinger (this process takes a while, but fear not, it will be worth it). Scatter evenly over prepared batter, working from the outer edges in. Don't weigh down the middle of your cake with too much crumb topping or it will sink.

Bake until the crumb topping is golden and a skewer inserted near the center comes out clean, about 35-40 minutes. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Lift the foil sling to remove from the baking pan. Dust with confectioner's sugar before serving.

*Use cake flour, not all-purpose flour, for this recipe. It will make a huge difference in the texture of the cake and will make the crumb topping more difficult to work with.

Barbeque Pulled Chicken

Lately, I've been cooking a lot.

I mean A LOT.

And I feel like I should share it with you.

I think, I'm becoming a food blog...mostly.

So let start things off on a deliciously easy note, shall we? The in-laws have once again killed a bunch of chickens, resulting in a freezer full of chicken for us. They're rather tough, making them perfect for crock-pot recipes. After searching the blogosphere, I found a few that look like definite winners. Stay tuned for many more delicious crock-pot chicken recipes I'll be trying in the next few months.

This first one caught my eye immediately because a.) it was smothered in BBQ sauce b.) it only has two ingredients c.) it is one of the easiest looking dishes EVER. Say it with me, won't you, Barbeque Pulled Chicken. Doesn't it sound amazing? I am a huge fan of pulled pork so this was the first of the chicken recipes to hit my test kitchen.

First things first, cut up your chicken into manageable pieces. Throw it into the crock-pot and smother it with a whole bottle of BBQ sauce. Cook it on the low setting for 3-4 hours (until it is cooked through and tender).

Take out your chicken chunks and let them cool slightly.

They should be all saucy and delicious looking...

 ...but don't eat them yet like I almost did.

Take the chicken off the bones and place in a large bowl.

Shred the chicken in a bowl using two forks 

(or your hands, who I am I kidding, that 's what I did)

Put it back in the crock-pot and stir it around in all that sauce.

Mmm...much better.

Let it cook for a couple hours longer so it soaks up even more saucy goodness.

Slap that on some hamburger buns and serve with fries. 

Dinner is served, my friends.

Barbeque Pulled Chicken 

adapted from Lick the Bowl Good

18 oz. bottle of your favorite Barbeque Sauce

1 small (3-5lb) chicken, cut into pieces

Place chicken in crock-pot and cover with barbeque sauce. Cook on low setting for 3-4 hours until cooked through and tender.

Remove chicken from crock-pot and allow to cool slightly, until able to handle. Pull the chicken meat off the bones and place in a large bowl. Using two forks (or your hands) shred the chicken.

Return chicken to the crock-pot and allow to cook for an additional 2 hours.

Serve on hamburger buns. 

Note: in the original version this recipe uses four boneless skinless chicken breasts, so that's fine and dandy if you don't have whole chicken lying around in your freezer, but I must say I can't imagine this recipe being quite as good without all that juicy dark meat. Yum!

Happy Day

Happy Father's Day to all you awesome dads out there. 

I hope you're enjoying your special day.

Homemade Breakfast.

Handmade Presents.

The Whole Shabang.

But most of all, my wishes are for Rob.

It's not just his first Father's Day. 

It's also our two year anniversary.

Happy Day my Love :)

We've come a long way.

Craft Night

Yesterday, Mandy and I went to Joann's Fabrics and I was overwhelmed (as I always am) at the crafty possibilities before me.

So the logical thing to do was to have a craft night.

With Margaritas.

And Cookies.

And "Sons of Anarchy."

Friends, it was glorious.

 

I made headbands.

The jeweled ones are my favorites.

I want to go back and get more jewels. 

I feel there are many things I could bedazzle.

FYI they fit all head sizes. I tried one on Luke (don't tell) and one on myself.

I was saddened that our night did not include homemade marshmallows.

It was part of the plan, but we just didn't have time.

Luke is sleeping now though...

Perhaps today's project will be homemade vanilla marshmallows and peppermint hot cocoa mix for all this cold weather we've been having. It's not due to warm up until Tuesday, I think cold weather treats are definitely in order. Stay tuned.

The Search for the Great Chocolate Chip Cookie

So, I am completely obsessed with the newish website Pinterest. It's like making lists with pictures and I LOVE making lists. It's weird, I know, but it's my thing. 

You can find my picture boards here if you want to see what I'm so obsessed about.

And in addition to Pinterest taking up an ungodly amount of my free time while Luke is asleep, it has also led me to many amazing new recipes (and therefore I justify my addiction). 

Earlier in the week I attempted to make homemade Samoa (caramel de-lites) Girlscout Cookies. Unfortunately, this was an epic fail. So I'm going back to basics.

I feel it is the duty of all great moms to make amazing chocolate chip cookies. AND, despite my husband's ardent love for my current chocolate chip cookies, I feel they could be better. I feel like they are not yet the BEST.

Then whaddaya know, I'm perusing my new favorite site and up pops the chocolate chip cookie recipe the New York Times has hailed the best of the best. So here goes nothing. Lets see how we do!

The consensus?

My search is over.

They taste like heaven on steroids.

You would be remiss not to try them.

The New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour

1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour (I used all purpose)

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt

2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter

1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/4 pounds chocolate chips

Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl and set aside.

Using a mixer with a paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy – about 5 minutes. Add eggs. Stir in vanilla. Reduce to low speed and add dry ingredients slowly, mixing until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Refrigerate dough for 24-36 hours (I am not a patient girl, I stuck them in the fridge for an hour tops). When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350.

Drop spoonfuls of dough onto lined baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes (mine took 15-18 minutes, I made big cookies).

Luke's Birth Story

Yesterday was Mother's Day and I hope all of you mothers had a truly blessed day. I remember last mother's day being barely pregnant and working at my thankless internship at the parks department, lugging around faux celebrities who treated me like I was getting paid to deal with their nasty attitudes and eccentric need for a single apple from the hotel buffet. I remember my husband bringing me In-N-Out and tulips and how I dreamed about how different like would be next year. Has that year seriously gone by already?

Luke is going to be five months old this week, and I just can't wrap my head around that. It seems like it was a couple weeks ago. Whenever I see myself holding Luke in the mirror I'm shocked. I think I'm going to see myself holding an infant and there he is: smiling and kicking and growing every day. So I figured I'd write down his birth story before it becomes cloudy and distant. Before I start having other babies and mix up the details. Before I'm looking in the mirror shocked to see myself holding a toddler.

Lucas' Story:

I flip flopped a lot about when I thought Lucas was going to come. For the longest time I was convinced he was going to come on graduation weekend. I had a dream that my parents were there and in the wee hours of the morning we were rushing to the hospital. But graduation came and went, and I waddled across the stage to get my diploma, shook hands with all my professors and my water didn't break.

Once this monumental moment had passed, I was filled with the overwhelming feeling that Lucas was going to arrive late, or at least during Christmas week. I had this inexplicable surge of energy. I had Ashleigh schedule me more hours for the next week. I was going to make it through finals and go on my maternity leave December 19th as scheduled.

Then on Sunday, December 12th, I was working the late holiday closing shift with Shana. I was having contractions (but at that point I was always having some sort of contraction) and they were getting closer together. But surely I couldn't be in labor.

Around 7 p.m. they were 5-7 minutes apart. Active labor. Since our last trip to the hospital had been a fake-out though my doctor told me to wait until 3-5 minutes. So since it was a slow, lazy night Shana let me walk around the mall. The contractions kept coming and kept getting closer. I called my mom at 9:00 p.m. from the mall Border's Store to tell her to keep her phone close by.

"You're not in labor," she told me.
"I know," I said, "but just in case."

 By the time we were getting ready to close the store I was at 3-5 minutes. I was going to drive home, but thought better of it and called Rob to pick me up. He took me to the hospital and we checked in, yet again, admitting sheepishly, "I think I'm in labor."

My night nurses were lovely. I was 3 1/2cm dilated when I got there so they kept checking me every hour for progress to make sure I'd be admitted that night. Sure enough around 11:30 p.m. they told me I was at 4cm and was being officially admitted. "Looks like we'll be having a baby this morning."

I called my mom, who drove quickly through the night to get to Reno. I e-mailed my professors from Rob's iPhone because, of course, all of our finals were tomorrow. I text messaged friends and walked around the halls in my sequined ballet flats I was still wearing from work (I wish Rob had taken a picture before I got in the gown, I looked exceptionally good for being on the verge of pushing out a baby. I was wearing a nice black dress and sparkly shoes. I even did my nails and make-up that day.) I did squats in my room willing my little one to get the show on the road (my water still hadn't broke). I watched cartoon television Christmas specials. I had a LOT of people checking my dilation. I chipped off all my freshly painted gold glitter nail polish. It was a long night.

The doctor (who was not MY doctor) offered to break my water earlier that night or said we could wait until morning. He said things would progress quickly after that so I waited until morning so I could have my doctor there to deliver the baby. I was promised a baby sometime around 7 a.m. This was a lie.

They broke my water, the contractions got worse, my doctor stopped by and to my dismay did not pull a baby out of me. He told me they would call him when it was time, until then I was to wait patiently and take whatever drugs I needed. I didn't want drugs. I wanted to try for natural. When I started shaking the bed rails and screaming, they gave me some medicine in my IV to dull the pain but it made me feel drunk and sleepy. It all but stopped my contractions. I kept taking it because it was messing with my head, and I couldn't take the pain knowing that there was no baby in sight yet. By this time it was noon or so on December 13th. About 17 hours into active labor.

I was hungry and not allowed to eat. Tired and not able to sleep. And to top it off the day nurse was an absolute dragon lady. She didn't give me medicine when I needed it and didn't have a shred of empathy in her. My mother got me a new nurse. My new nurse got me an epidural before it was too late. It was 2 p.m. now, 8cm dilated. We were finally looking at the finish line.

Then the epidural came. I don't remember this part too clearly. I remember it was a pinch, not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Then I kept asking, "can I lie down? I need to lie down. I need to lie down. I don't feel good." Everything got blurry. I started vomiting. In my last conscious moment I thought, "crap, I threw up in my hair."

When I came to there were tons of doctors in the room asking me if I could feel my legs. They put an oxygen mask on me and told me to breathe deeply. My heart rate had dropped and so had the baby's. My mom and Rob were tearing up and looked frightened. They told me not to go to sleep, just keep breathing. I guess they gave me something to counteract what happened. I don't really remember.

The contractions kept coming and I finally got to start pushing around 3 p.m. but my doctor still wasn't there. They eventually gave me pitocin, to speed up the contractions and let me push more. My doctor came and told me the baby was turned the wrong way. He mentioned the c word. I had NOT gone through nearly 20 hours of labor for a caesarean. As we were getting down to the wire, he turned him, and I pushed harder.

My husband suited up to help deliver. My doctor told me he saw Luke's head (lots of hair!). My mom held my hand. My epidural wore off. I screamed bloody murder. I thought I was at my last push, and I wasn't. They cut me, and I thought I was going to die. The last thing I remember was everyone telling me to push, "you can do it, " "you're doing great," as I screamed "I can't" and tried to climb out of my stirrups.

And then there he was, all blue from having the cord around his neck, his face scrunched up and angry. Then he screamed, and the doctor handed him over to my husband. Nurses took him and cleaned him and put eye drops in. All I could hear was my mom and Rob telling me, "He's perfect."

Then they handed him to me. And you know what. He absolutely was.

Lent...failure in blogging but successful nonetheless

My 40 Days of Love for Lent project was a fail, I'll admit

...but not completely. 

Lent was still a wonderful season.

It ended with me and my baby being baptized together, which was a magical experience.

BUT, I was horrible about blogging.

 There were a great many things that got in the way such as...

• Baby, baby and more baby
• Traveling to California
• Setting up for daycare
• Other things I can't remember

However, the list was made well before I started blogging so it wasn't a complete fail. Granted I didn't complete the whole list (I am definitely going to try again next year) but I did do many of the things on the list with or without the blog keeping up. I am still in love with the idea and I am dedicated to doing this every year. Next year I WILL complete it. Maybe I'll even be able to do it with the blog and pretty pictures the whole way through. Who knows? Here is what the list looked like for those of you still wondering:

40 Days of Love for Lent

Day 1: Wednesday, March 9^th

            Reconnect with an old friend

                        send a note, give a phone call, write a facebook message…just get back in touch

Day 2: Thursday, March 10^th

            Hold the door open for someone

                        do it consciously, graciously, humbly.

Day 3: Friday, March 11^th

            Leave a generous tip

                        go out for coffee, ice-cream, lunch or dinner and make your server’s day a little brighter

Day 4: Saturday, March 12^th

            Bake something sweet for your neighbor

                        Whether you’re best friends or you’ve never met, love your neighbor in a tangible way.

Day 5: Monday, March 14^th

            Let someone know you’re grateful for them

                        …and thank God for putting them in your life

Day 6: Tuesday, March 15^th

            Write a letter to a family member

                        Let grandma know you’re thinking of her or tell a far away relative “I miss you”

Day 7: Wednesday, March 16^th

            Call someone you love, just to say “Hello”

                        Have a nice chat, it will brighten your day too.

Day 8: Thursday, March 17^th

            Clean out your closet to donate to charity

                        Simplify your life, and give to those in need.

Day 9: Friday, March 18^th

            Cook a meal for your loves

                        It doesn’t have to be gourmet as long as it’s prepared with love.

Day 10: Saturday, March 19^th

            Read a favorite book to a child

                        Maybe this means babysitting for a friend, or visiting nieces and nephews. You’ll be glad you did.

Day 11: Monday, March 21^st

            Pack a lunch to give to the homeless

                        Find someone to give it to today or save it in your car for when the opportunity arises.

Day 12: Tuesday, March 22^nd

            Give a gift to friend

                        It can be as simple as a candy bar and a carton of milk. Just let them know they’re loved.

Day 13: Wednesday, March 23^rd

            Write a list of 40 things you’re thankful for

It may sound like a lot, but it really isn’t. Just jot things down as they come to you throughout the day and say a prayer of gratitude when you’re done.

Day 14: Thursday, March 24^th

                        Give to a new charity

                                    Find a worthy cause and give what you can.

Day 15, Friday, March 25^th

            Pay for someone’s tab anonymously

Buy a stranger’s coffee or pick a random couple at dinner to cover. It will make their day (and probably make yours as well).

Day 16: Saturday, March 26^th

            Plant a flower

                        …or some seeds, a cactus, a whole garden! Put something in God’s earth and help it grow.

Day 17: Monday, March 28^th

                        Be Patient and Kind

                        work towards this always…

Day 18: Tuesday, March 29^th

            Set aside ten minutes for prayerful meditation

                        Quiet time with God in the morning will work wonders on the rest of your day.

Day 19: Wednesday, March 30^th

            Write a love note

                        and tuck it away where it will be found.

Day 20: Thursday, March 31^st

            Share a smile with a stranger

                        and maybe a warm “hello” too

Day 21: Friday, April 1^st

            Leave something nice on a neighbor’s doorstep

                        a sweet potted plant, a basket of goodies, the possibilities are endless

Day 22: Saturday, April 2^nd

            Write a thank you note for your priest or pastor

                        show them you appreciate the selfless love they show your church community

Day 23: Monday, April 4^th

            Be sincere when you ask people “How are you?”

                        then listen, really listen.

Day 24: Tuesday, April 5^th

            Make a treat to share with friends

                        cupcakes or cookies, layered dips and chips – make your specialty

Day 25: Wednesday, April 6^th

            Tell five people “I love you”

                        I bet you’ll get that love right back.

Day 26: Thursday, April 7^th

            Volunteer your time

                        Commit yourself to give a day to help out at Saint Vincent’s or help a friend with Spring Cleaning

Day 27: Friday, April 8^th

            Make dinner for a busy friend

                        Drop it off at their house, at their work, or at school. A hot meal does wonders for the weary soul.

Day 28: Saturday, April 9^th

            Appreciate the weather

                        It doesn’t matter if it’s sunny, cloudy, raining or snowing…enjoy it fully and give thanks to God.

Day 29: Monday, April 11^th

            Make a date with a friend

                        Whatever you love to do, do it together.

Day 30: Tuesday, April 12^th

            Frame a special photograph for someone

                        Think of how happy it will make them to look at it every day.

Day 31: Wednesday, April 13^th

            Sing a happy song while you clean

                        A hymn or the Gloria or a catchy tune from the radio, be a joyful steward of what God has given you

Day 32: Thursday, April 14^th

            Give your pets extra love

                        If you don’t have furry friends of your own, walk through the park and pet a playful mutt

Day 33: Friday, April 15^th

            Forgive, really truly forgive

                        “…as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Day 34: Saturday, April 16^th

            Pay someone a compliment

                        and make sure it’s sincere!

Day 35: Monday, April 18^th

            Send Easter cards to friends and family

                        Remind them you love them during this season of joy

Day 36: Tuesday, April 19^th

            Write down an inspirational quote on a post-it and leave it in a public place

There used to be someone who left post-its saying “you’re beautiful” in the ladies restrooms on campus and I thought it was just lovely.

Day 37: Wednesday, April 20^th

            Let yourself laugh with others

                        Recall humorous adventures with a friend, watch a funny movie together, laugh loudly and freely.

Day 38: Thursday, April 21^st

            Unplug and spend time with those you love

                        Turn off the television, computer and phone and spend uninterrupted time together.

Day 39: Friday, April 22^nd

            Be in awe of nature

                        Go for a hike, watch the sun rise or set, revel in the beauty of spring flowers and thank God.

Day 40: Saturday, April 23^rd

            Journal about your 40 days of Love

                        reflect on this Lenten season and prepare your heart for the Easter celebration.