Friday, April 22, 2011

Vanilla Peach Coffee Cake

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Michael Lee West has released her newest book
Gone With A Handsomer Man.
You can read all about it HERE.

To celebrate its launch, I've made the main character,
Teeny Templeton's recipe for

Vanilla Peach Coffee Cake.

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Since my copy of her book is still on order from Borders
I had to use a print-out of the cover
in my new cookbook stand.



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Vanilla Peach Coffee Cake

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 cup sugar (white, granulated)
  • 1 tspspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Beat eggs. Add milk and oil. Whisk together.
Add vanilla & sour cream.
Next add dry ingredients

Mix will be crumbly.
Pour into greased 9x13 in pan or well seasoned cast iron skillet

Prepare topping:

  • 3 cups peeled, ripe peaches sliced
  • 2 Tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 Cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
Mix ingredients and spoon over batter

Place in 350º preheated oven for 30 min.


I melted some peach jam & brushed it on the top of the cake
after seeing Ina Garten do the same thing last week.
It gave it a beautiful shine for the photos!



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We were all set to enjoy the coffee cake with our mid-afternoon tea &
my newest
teapot...more about that later.
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I was in such a hurry to capture pictures of the cake,
that I didn't let it cool at all before placing
it on my antique Fostoria Americana cake plate.

I should know better!

Suddenly we heard this LOUD crack & I rushed in to find this:
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I cried!
Literally stood there & just cried!
The heat from the cake caused it to break in two.
This was one of my most cherished antiques.
I know you're not supposed to put so much stock into material things
but still.......

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We enjoyed the cake anyway.
(after making sure there wasn't any glass in it)
Serving plate: Pfaltzgraff Grapevine pattern

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I need another cup of tea!
I'm joining noted author, Michael Lee at

Designs by Gollum

for her weekly meme
Foodie Friday.

I hope you go visit her & find tons more recipes to try.
Thanks for visiting me here at The Gazebo House.

If you go visit Yvonne at StoneGable,
you can enter to win the book, a $100 Horchow gift certificate
& some beautiful dishes, too!

Kathleen, at Cuisine Kathleen is also having a $100 gift certificate
give-away in honor of Michael Lee's new book.

Wishing you a
Joyeuse Pacques!


27 comments:

  1. Oh Rett, I'm so sorry your cake stand broke! I was just sitting here thinking how pretty your cake and pictures looked, then... bummer. I hope your book gets there soon and you can relax with that cup of tea and enjoy! Happy Easter:@)

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  2. I just spotted you at Bj's blog; had to come and check you out. Love the name of your blog; your beautiful pictures are breath taking.
    I can just imagine how your felt about that lovely plate.
    And then we say... Why did I do that? Been there, done that.
    Joyeuse Pâques.
    Rita

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  3. Oh no, i would have cried too. I remember early in my marriage asking my mother in law what I could do she asked me to make the sweet tea. I poured too hot of water into the ultra thin pitcher of her mother's. CRACK. I felt horrible, to this day. The coffee cake did look good on that stand! You'll find another...you are so good at doing that. I saw where you found a bunny plate for someone. I remember you found my silverware for me.

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  4. Rett, that cake looks wonderful and so sorry your cake stand broke. I was just noticing how pretty it was in the before pictures. I would have cried, too.

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  5. Oh my Rett! I'm so very sorry you broke your cake plate......I can just imagine how you felt. What a shame! Here you make something so beautiful and then...bam!! It's almost like you wished you hadn't baked at all, I bet. I hope it was good though!

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  6. Rett, the coffee cake looks fabulous! You set up a beautiful table!!!!
    I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful cake stand!I would have cried too!
    Rett, thank you so much for your friendship, I cherish it so.
    Happy and blessed Easter!
    Yvonne

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  7. Oh, dear. It is such a wrench to lose something associated with good memories. It is not the "possession", possessions can be replaced - it is the connection to the past. When I was a little girl I would always cry when anything broke - even a "jelly glass"! Some of us are just more sentimental than others.
    I hope you can find a good repair person. I had my grandmother's glass compote repaired with great results.
    Better luck

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  8. The cake looks so yummy! I understand wanting to capture it in photographs so quickly that you forgot about the possible hazards. I also understand only too well the pain of losing a cherished serving piece. A "helper" once poured steeping, and still hot tea, into a crystal pitcher with ice. The pitcher was inherited from my mother-in-law, and etched with her monogram. I can still hear that horrible cracking sound. We both need to relax with a cup of tea! Happy Easter to you and yours!

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  9. Oh no! I am so very sorry about your cake stand. I know how that hurts. Everything looks so beautiful and the cake looks delicious! Your new teapot is darling.

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  10. I would've cried too! And just as I was thinking I should bake a pretty cake and use mine for more than a centerpiece! I'll still do that though. You're right about a blog making you fuss and make things pretty. Two things made me start cooking more; my blog and having my kitchen redone!! You have a lovely blog and I'll be back. That cake looks scrumptious!!!!!

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  11. Rett, I'm crying with you over the loss of that beautiful cake plate and honey.....you need something stronger than tea to drink after that loss.

    I've been searching for a sweet for brunch on Sunday and thanks to you I now have it. Happy Easter my friend.

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  12. I feel terrible about the mishap with your cherished cake stand. I made the same peach coffee cake and enjoyed it. It has a lot of nutmeg in it! I love your presentation!

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  13. Oh Rett, I was drooling over that cake. It looks absolutely fabulous. I was also admiring your gorgeous cake stand and then... as you said that you should have known better, my jaw dropped! I am sooo sorry. I have many possessions and am usually very carfree if something happens to one, but everyonce in awhile... it's something so special. I will truly keep my eyes open. You never know when one might pop up!

    - The Tablescaper

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  14. Hi, Rett,
    I always enjoy your beautiful posts. What a shame about your serving dish. :( Thanks for the delish looking recipe, and have a wonderful Easter.
    D

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  15. I'm so sorry about your cake stand! I had that happen a few years ago with my Fostoria (I got butterfingery and dropped it). The cake is magnificent! In Teeny's dreams, she would like to make one like yours. Rett, I got so behind with the prepub and book stuff, I meant to send you a book! I lost your address. Would you like an audiobook?

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  16. Oh... sweet pea!, sorry for the braking of such gorgeous cake stand! I was admiring it along with the reticulated one (and thinking how it would look grate with my dishes!) Anyway, things like, crystal, china, ceramics, do brake, we get sad for a while, but hell!...that's it, better than getting sick over them! Your table looks gorgeous and so inviting to have tea with your delish sweets! Thanks for coming by and leaving me such lovely and generous comments.
    Blessed and happy Easter.
    FABBY

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  17. OH NO!! My heart sank when I read that! I am so sorry! Any way to glue it and always use a doily on top? :(

    The cake looks fabulous, I'd love a piece!

    Thanks so much for the shout out about the give away too. You are a dear friend!

    A joyous Easter, and I will be on the look out in Savers for a cake plate like that!

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  18. Your tea is set so beautifully and I'm sorry that your lovely cake pedestal broke. It's difficult when something that you cherish gets broken :-( Hopefully, you can get it repaired. Nevertheless, everything looks so pretty and delicious!

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  19. Oh, Rett, I'm so sad your beautiful cake stand broke. Your coffee cake looks delicious and beautiful though.
    I received a big brown envelope in the mail today. You are such a sweetheart. Thank you!
    Happy Easter! ~ sarah

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  20. Oh, Rett, I am crying for you! I know how that feels. I had a treasured cake server and somehow hit the top and it came right off the pedestal. I am just sick for you.

    I have to say the peach cobbler looks fantastic. I am sure I would have to use frozen peaches, but I keep reading everyone's recipe and just have to try it.
    Teeny would cry too.

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  21. Oh no! I'm so sorry about your beautiful cake stand. Lesson learned the hard way :( On a positive note, your cake looks delicious! Teeny would be proud.

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  22. Oh Rett, I am so sorry about your beautiful cake stand. I know it is just a "thing", but sometimes the memories just make those things a little more special. I hope you can find another ~
    And on that note, thanks for the ebay link. I bought all 5!! You were so sweet to send me that, I will think of you every time I use them and the thoughtfulness they represent!
    Happy Easter.
    Sue

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  23. Hi Rett and Happy Easter! I am so sorry about your beautiful cake stand. Your cake is beautiful too and looks delicious. I love your header photo too, as well as your new white teapot. That's what I need, a white teapot. It goes with everything.
    Blessings and hugs, Beth

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  24. Bless your heart! I would have cried too if it had been my antique dish. Your picture taking is beautiful. The cake looked yummy!! Enjoyed your blog.

    Lori

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  25. So sorry about your cake stand! The coffee cake looks amazing! Perfect to enjoy with a cup of tea. Happy Easter.

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  26. That cake looks amazing and I too was admiring your cake plate...my mom gave me her wedding crystal when I got married and the first time I used them I broke a glass...I hope you find another one.

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  27. Just checking the link to see if it works for the sidebar. I'm still sad to see your beautiful Fostoria stand in pieces..but your cake looks scrumptious. XX00

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment. I read them all & each one is so very special to me & I try really hard to return the visit!

fondly,
~Rett~