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A Closer Look at Winter Damage

But first, take a look at this gorgeous rainbow that we had on Friday! The five-day stretch of warm temperatures last week really jump-started the garden. Now that plants are putting out new growth, it is easier to see what kind of damage the winter left. Back in mid-January, we experienced five straight days of below-freezing temperatures. This caused much damage in Portland and areas where frigid winds were a factor. Here, we were fortunate to not get the wind and the cold temperatures were dampened by a blanket of snow. That said, it was a tough time for the garden and there are noticeable casualties but no outright deaths that I have seen. The bottlebrush ( Callistemon 'Woodlander's Red') did not like the cold at all. It was planted six years ago, in the north-facing garden no less, and I've not experienced die-back on it until now. A local expert said to cut it all the way back so that is what I did. If it doesn't make it, I won't be too distraught. It is

Blueberry Coffee Cake



I made this for a breakfast reception at work. The recipe came from the Internet but I made a few changes.

Ingredients:
Streusel topping:
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 stick butter

Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cup fresh blueberries

For the glaze:
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
2 TSP. lemon juice (approx.)

Directions:
1. Pre=heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a springform or Bundt pan well with cooking spray. (I used a springform pan)
2. Make the streusel topping: Mix 1 brown cup sugar, 2/3 cup flour, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup butter or margarine; topping mixture will be crumbly. Set aside.
3. For the cake: Beat 1/2 cup butter in large bowl until creamy; add 1 cup white sugar, and beat until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Whisk together 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt; add alternately with the buttermilk to the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.
4. Spread half the batter in the prepared pan. Cover with berries and half of the streusel topping. Add add remaining batter by tablespoons. Cover with the remaining streusel topping.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 to 55 minutes, until golden brown. Remove pan to wire rack to cool. Invert onto a plate after cake has cooled.

Make the glaze: To make the glaze, add lemon juice a little at at time to confectioners sugar until it reaches desired consistency.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Phillip, it's a crime to post this picture! I think I have all the ingredients needed and can try to make it this weekend. Looks SO delicious!
    As for your question in the comment on my blog, that tree with blue blooms is a Ceanothus (California lilac).Thanks for visiting!

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  2. That looks DELICIOUS. Could you fed-ex me some? :P

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  3. That looks yummy - I just need to translate the measurements into UK ones and work out what 'all-purpose flour' is equivalent to here and I will give it a go

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  4. Oh my does that look delicious! And I have a glut of blueberries. How opportune.

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  5. Kyna, I wish I could!

    Patient, AP flour here includes the baking powder, baking soda, etc.

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  6. That looks wonderful! Lucky folks who got to enjoy it!

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  7. So funny - my husband just asked me this morning if we could make our own coffee cake (as we were eating Sara Lee)! This one looks amazing and also has the added benefit of antioxidants from the berries. Thanks!

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  8. Oh, Phillip, all I had for breakfast was a banana, plus we are shorthanded here at work today so I skipped lunch. That photo is torturing me:) I'll bet it was a big hit at work.
    Marnie

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  9. Please note, I tried this recipe and it was yummy, however there is an error to the portion of butter for the "Struesel topping"!

    1/2 cup butter (1 full stick) will result in a dough-like glob, not a crumbly mixture. I had to re-do this part using only half a stick of butter to get the crumbly texture.

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  10. Crystal, thanks for alerting me. I will correct that!

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  11. Phillip, I tried this recipe, since I have an abundance of blueberries. It was delicious! I did notice the descrepency in butter amounts from the list of ingredients for the topping to the directions--the directions say 1/2 cup , where it sould have been 1/2 stick. Also, the picture appears to have the topping on the top---but that would require that half the topping be put in the bundt pan first, instead of adding it as the final step. (so that when you invert the cake, the topping would actually be on top) Is this how you did it? Did you pour your glaze over struesel topping or over bare cake?

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  12. Hi Gail, yes that is how I did it! I added the glaze to the finished cake (I think!).

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