Modern Mrs. Cleaver

Do we still DO coffee cake??

These marvelous little cakes used to be served when company stopped by for coffee and tea. Women used to serve a variety of these gems at parties and socials….

Please tell me we haven’t become too busy for all of that???

In hopes of reviving the good ole-fashioned coffee cake….I’m sharing my Maple Nut version!

It’s simple, tasty, and company pleasing.

So have a social, or take some over to your neighbor. It’s the right thing to do

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups brown sugar (divided)

3/4 cup oil

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (divided)

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 egg

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon maple extract

1 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

2/3 cup chopped pecans

4 tablespoons melted butter

4 ounces cream cheese- softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 tablespoons milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a 9×13 pan and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, 1 cup of the brown sugar, nutmeg, and 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon.

Measure out 3/4 cup of this mixture and set it aside.

In the remaining mixture, make a well in the center.

In a separate bowl, whisk the egg, buttermilk, sour cream, maple extract, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together until smooth. Pour this mixture into the center well in the other bowl.

Stir until well combined.

Spread the batter into an even layer in the bottom of the prepared pan.

Combine the reserved flour mixture with the remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and chopped pecans. Add the melted butter and stir until combined and moistened.

Sprinkle evenly over the cake batter and give a slight press to make sure the topping adheres to the batter.

Place the cake in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the edges are golden.

While the cake bakes, place the cream cheese in a medium bowl and whip with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in the powdered sugar. Stir in the vanilla and milk until thoroughly combined. If necessary, add a little more milk to get a drizzle consistency.

When the cake has cooled slightly, cut into small (hahah LARGE) squares and serve with a generous drizzle of the cream cheese glaze.

Take a look at THAT!!! Make time for it….Trust me

Signing Off,

Modern Mrs. Cleaver

I’m a sucker for breads and baked goods that are bursting with fresh berries. It’s a treat that only summer time can offer!

I’ve been making versions of this bread for quite some time now, however I decided to change-up my old recipe after a fan asked me for a few lactose-free recipes.

This bread is made with coconut milk, which is friendly to those that are lactose intolerant, and adds a wonderful flavor to the finished product.

The top of this bread looks and tastes JUST like the muffin tops at the bakery, and the bottom of the loaf is soft and spongy, packed with flavor, and of course….fruit!

Let’s get baking……

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

3 tablespoons shortening

1 cup granulated sugar

1 medium lemon, zested or stripped

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup coconut milk

6 oz. fresh blueberries (reserve a few for the tops of the bread loaves)

1 tablespoon flour

1 tablespoon turbinado (sugar in the raw or other coarse sugar) Continue reading →

As we fire up our grills and gather with friends and family for BBQ’s and picnics, we need to make sure our side dishes are at the top of their game!

You’ll see baked beans gracing the tables of many summer gatherings, however I like to change mine up a bit.

These beans are packed with unique ingredients and will have folks coming back for more AND asking for the recipe. Winner winner baked bean dinner

Ingredients:

1 pound bacon- cooked and crumbled

1 large sweet potato

2 poblano or anaheim peppers- seeded and diced  (If you want more heat, substitute a few jalapenos)

4 (15 oz) cans ranch style beans

1 (15 oz) can great northern beans- rinsed and drained

1 medium red onion, diced

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 teaspoon kosher salt

cracked black pepper

24 oz canned peaches in syrup

1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease the inside of a dutch oven or large casserole that has a lid. I love to use pretty summer colored cookware so I can go right from the oven to a picnic table. This one is a gorgeous “Azure Cast Iron Casserole” from Denby.

Peel and dice the sweet potato.

Add the un-drained cans of ranch style beans to the pot. If you don’t have access to these cheap little wonder cans, look for pinto beans that are canned in a chili sauce.

Continue reading →

Have you ever noticed how certain foods take you back to your childhood?

How a particular smell can transport you to a time long ago?

It  happens to me all the time, and often puts a huge smile on my face as the memories flood in with it.

So lemme tell you a quick story…and then we’ll get to these scones!

When I young, Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Brite fought for top billing in my life. It was a constant strife of riotous color and magical creatures. It’s the way a young girl’s life SHOULD be.

Most often, Rainbow Brite won and got the best spot on my daybed (also in style then). Ahhh Rainbow Brite with her fantastic dress and puffy leg warmers. How could I resist? I believe there was a point in my life that I believed I WAS Rainbow Brite….

My mother, who sewed like angels sing, turned me into that doll for Halloween one year. I was several shades of awesome that year!

While I still love her…..Strawberry Shortcake had something she didn’t. A SMELL!

That little plastic doll smelled like strawberries and milk. I can still smell it to this day….and when I use strawberries in my kitchen, my mind goes right back to those days….sitting on my bed with that little gal and all her friends. I know each of their names to this very day!

Shortly after making these strawberry scones, I called my mother and thought I would “Fill Her In” on my memories and jog her memory in regards to these dolls I had.

I should have know…..her memory needed NO JOGGING! She remembers….as all the BEST mothers do! Continue reading →