Daily Archives: September 16, 2011

Sep16

Brrrrrrrr! Time to bake!

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It was in the 50’s today in Northwest Arkansas.  It forced me to stay in my pajamas and drink coffee staring out at the grey sky.  It also made me wish I had some coffee cake to enjoy with my coffee, along with the baked good smell that would fill the house.  So I thought I’d pass this recipe on to you to make your own coffee cake to enjoy on one of your lazy days!

Pecan Coffee Cake

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9×13 inch pan with aluminum foil, and lightly grease with vegetable oil or cooking spray. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sour cream, then beat in sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. By hand, fold in the flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Spread batter into prepared pan.
  3. To make the Pecan Topping: In a medium bowl, mix together brown sugar, pecans and cinnamon. Stir in melted butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over cake batter in pan.
  4. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack, and remove foil.

 

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Sep16

Texas June

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Dear readers, within the past few days another reader mentioned crying because she had to sell her cattle herd because she could no longer afford to feed her mammas and babies anymore.  Well, readers let’s give this a look-see.  I listen to NPR in the morning sometimes, and throughout this summer, Texas has been in the headlines.  Here in Arkansas, we were included in the high-pressure system that sat directly on top of the Lone Star State.  Now what does this mean?  Why should we care?  We’re talking about ways of lives, lost due to the worst drought in Texas history.  Texas has kept weather record for the last 150 years and this was the hottest, dryest year on record.  I haven’t seen it first hand, but the more I’ve read from news sources it speaks of the burnt landscape, all over Texas, land scorched from the blistering heat, or from one of many wildfires.  Now,I don’t know if you know this, but Texas is big cattle country.  And?  Well, Ranchers, who have built up their herds for the past 40-50 years are having to sell them at auction because they can no longer afford feed costs, bales of hay at record prices $65-$85 a bale.

So what does this mean for you?  Nationally you’re going to see meat prices rise.  The economic impact of this drought so far is 5.2 billion, with a B, and counting.  It’s not only the cattle industry that’s affected, but the cotton industry, and also winter wheat production.  Please continue reading more about this.  It’s something to consider, and our friend Texas June.  I’d like to type out that all will be okay and the universe will right itself, but this is one weather related incident that may have a lasting impact.  Everyone do your rain dance for Texas.