BLUEBERRY CRUMB COFFEE CAKE-EASTER BREAKFAST

Our Easter morning still involves a crack of dawn (at east it feels like it) egg hunt for my daughter and her cousins followed by a fierce sugar frenzy involving half eaten marshmallow peeps, jelly beans and ending with a decapitated chocolate bunny and stomachache! I like to watch the early morning chaos with a cup of extremely strong  French roast coffee and a slice of delicious blueberry crumb cake hot from the oven. The crumb cake has become an Easter morning tradition, it's rich and delicious, bursting with fresh blueberries and lightly scented with cinnamon-and honestly, I can't resist the buttery crumble topping! I like to add a dollop of Greek yogurt for a perfect on the go breakfast. As for the half eaten marshmallow chick, I confess, it was me!

Blueberry Crumb Cake

For the Strusel topping-

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1 stick unsalted butter, melted

1 1/2 cups flour

For the cake

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

3/4 cups granulated sugar

2 extra large eggs, at room temp.

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2/3 cup sour cream

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest1 

1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Butter and flour a 9-inch round baking pan. 

For the streusel-

Combine the sugars and spices in a bowl.  Stir in the melted butter and then the flour. Set aside.

For the cake-

Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer for 4 minutes, until light. Reduce the speed to low, add the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla, lemon zest and sour cream.  In a seperate bowl , sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda together. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture to the wet mixture until just combined. Gently fold in the blueberries. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and with your fingers, gently crumble the topping over the batter. Bake for 40-50 minutes until cake tester comes out clean. 

Recipe From Barefoot Contessa

Wishing you a wonderful Holiday!

EASTER BREAKFAST-BLUEBERRY COFFEE CAKE

Easter morning: I'm up at the crack of dawn, running around the backyard hiding the dozens of glorious Easter eggs the kids decorated and dyed the night before for our annual East Egg Hunt. The hunt has grown from its modest beginning of a few eggs hidden in the garden to a full blown golden EGG-stravaganza. With Dash, our dog following close behind, I systematically make my way through the yard, ensuring that there are enough easy to find eggs for the little ones nestled into the garden and for the older kids, I try to make it more challenging, tucking an egg or two above the trellis or behind the wooden shutters.  Can climbing trees be far behind?

When I'm done outside it's time for a light breakfast.  A slice of homemade coffee cake is perfect with early morning coffee and very easy to make. I came across this blueberry crumble coffee cake from the Barefoot Contessa two years ago and have made it for Easter breakfast ever since. The rich crumble topping and slightly sweet cake perfectly complements a dark cup of coffee. The aroma of cinnamon and brown sugar from the oven will drive everyone crazy! I like to serve it warm from the oven accompanied by a small bowl of vanilla yogurt. Happy Easter!

Blueberry Crumb Cake
for the streusel
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups flour

For the cake
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 extra large eggs, at room temp.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 9-inch round baking pan. 
For the streusel-
combine the sugars and spices in a bowl.  Stir in the melted butter and then the flour. Set aside.
For the cake-
Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer for 4 minutes, until light. Reduce the speed to low, add the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla, lemon zest and sour cream.  In a seperate bowl , sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda together. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture to the wet mixture until just combined. Gently fold in the blueberries. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and with your fingers, gently crumble the topping over the batter. Bake for 40-50 minutes until cake tester comes out clean. 

Egg Hunt 2009 

IT'S MY FIRST TIME...

It's my first give away and I'm so excited! I want to send out a big thank you to all my wonderful readers for your support and readership since I began Hampton Hostess this past summer. I absolutely love reading your wonderfully witty and thoughtful comments, so please keep them coming! Most of all, I've enjoyed the opportunity to make so many fabulous new friends. I'm thrilled to inaugurate my first giveaway, Tell Me Something Good- three winners will have a choice from four fantastic books that I believe epitomize the best in Hampton's architecture, classic interior design and entertaining.

 
Weekend Utopia: Modern Living In The Hamptons by Alastair Gordon, chronicles the evolution of the modern beach house on the once rural eastern end of Long Island and offers revealing insights into the culture that went along with it.

Although Smith's book is not a Hampton design book per se, his sophisticated and comfortable design aesthetic, coupled with pages of thoughtful ideas, practical advice and gorgeous rooms, make this book a must read for design enthusiasts everywhere.

Houses Of  The Hamptons, 1880-1930, by Gary Lawrence and Anne Surchin, lead the reader on a tour of a bygone era with an in-depth look at more than 30 magnificent homes created by some of American's leading architects. The book is filled with beautiful photos, floor plans and rare archival images of some of the most magnificent homes on the east end of Long Island.

Barefoot Contessa Back To Basics: Fabulous Flavor From Simple Ingredients by Ina Garten is a classic and essential cookbook which focuses on cooking techniques, great recipes and tips on entertaining in Ina's elegant and easy entertaining style. Everything in this book is simply made and simply delicious!

Here's how to enter-
-Make sure you are a follower, either through this blog, or my Facebook page
-Leave a comment, either mention your favorite HH post or tell me what you would like to read more about in Hampton Hostess, remember to include your email
-If you Tweet or Post about this giveaway, then you can enter again

Three winners will be chosen at random to win one of the books, your choice.
Good luck! The give away will be open until Tuesday, February 23rd at 11 pm EST.

ENTERTAINING-BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S CASUAL ELEGANCE

 Town and Country

I'm a huge fan of Ina Garten, aka The Barefoot Contessa, who started her brilliant culinary career with a popular food shop in East Hampton.  We were weekend regulars there, loading up on her curry chicken salad and decadent brownies for lunches on the beach. With the introduction of her cookbook, The Barefoot Contessa in 1999, I became a lifelong fan. Her recipes feature seasonal local ingredients in delicious, interesting recipes, and best of all, she isn't afraid to use butter!

Garten is featured in this months Town & Country magazine where she reveals secrets to the Barefoot Contessa's unpretentious, elegant style.

Her Words To Live By: "It's not about the food: it's about the friends."

Photo from House Beautiful

Her favorite piece of furniture is the long, narrow dining table in her new barn which comfortably seats sixteen.  The wooden table from Bloom in Sag Harbor, is pure rustic charm, which Garten sets for dinner with a mix of casual Crate and Barrel white Maison plates topped with delicate antique gold-rimmed plates from the Paris antique shop Au Bain Marie. The result is a laid-back elegance;  a table where lively conversation and delicious food takes center stage.

Restoration Hardware carries a salvaged 108" Trestle table that is a close cousin to Garten's prized table.

Trestle table from Restoration Hardware is made from reclaimed wood.

Her favorite flowers are hot-pink peonies and orange parrot tulips. Photo from Garten's Paris apartment.

 

Biggest professional influence was Julia Child-of course!

Gotta love a girl whose favorite drink is a Whiskey Sour.