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Kiftsgate Court Gardens

Just right down the road from Hidcote is Kiftsgate Court Gardens. This garden was created by Heather Muir beginning in the 1920s. Muir's daughter, Diany Binny, came to live at Kiftsgate in 1954. She would add the half-moon pool and redesigned the white garden. She also first opened the garden to the public. Today, the tradition continues as granddaughter Anne Chambers and her husband maintain the gardens.    Heather Muir was a friend and neighbor of Hidcote's Lawrence Johnston (their houses are within one mile of each other), and he inspired her in the garden's design. However, the two gardens differ in character and have their own unique characteristics. While Johnston's garden is laid out in strict geometric lines, Muir took a more naturalistic approach. Muir added many heirloom shrub roses to the garden and is famous for the 'Kiftsgate' rose, which occurred from a seedling in the garden. Unfortunately, we were too early for the roses. There were a few like t...

Plum Coffee Cake


 
A member of the family who owns the nursery where I work has a fantastic vegetable garden and he brings wonderful things (corn!) in to share with employees. It is the time of year for these delicious plums and he has presented us with two boxes full during the past two weeks. A customer and I were discussing them and she shared a recipe with me for a Plum Coffee Cake. It is wonderful and I would think that you could substitute apples, peaches or just about any fruit if you don't have plums.


Cake:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon zest
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter (softened)
2 large eggs
8-10 plums (about 1 lb.), pitted and sliced

Streusel Topping:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter (softened)

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare a 9-inch springform pan by lining the bottom with parchment paper. Spray or butter the paper and the sides of the pan.
 
Whisk together the flour and the baking powder in a mixing bowl.

On low speed, add the sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla and lemon zest. Beat for 2 minutes until well combined.

The batter will be sticky. Carefully spread it over the bottom of the springform pan. (I find that coating a spatula with cooking spray helps).

Arrange the sliced plums over the dough in a spiral pattern. Set aside.
 
 

Make the streusel topping:

In a mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon and butter and beat until it becomes crumbly.

Spread the topping evenly over the plums.
 
 

Bake for 45-50 minutes. If the top hasn't browned, turn the oven to the broiler setting for 5 more minutes.

After removing from the oven, let it sit on a wire rack for 15 minutes before running a knife around the perimeter of the pan and releasing the sides. Cool completely.


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. The fruit on my two Italian plum trees aren't quite ripe yet. I love eating them straight off the tree, while I garden. If it looks like we wouldn't be able to consume everything, there is the dehydrator that helps stretch the season for months. The plum coffee cake looks scrumptious!

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    Replies
    1. I thought these were Italian plums but wasn't exactly sure. They are good just by themselves. You are lucky to have your own trees!

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  2. My husband loves plums. I bet he would love this coffeecake. I would too. Thanks for the recipe.

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