Ina Garten

I have a slight obsession with Ina Garten, aka Barefoot Contessa.

She lives in the Hamptons in my dream home.

Her and her husband are so cute together.

And she's an amazing cook and baker.

She makes it all look so easy and delicious, and if you've ever tried her recipes you know it's true!

Yesterday I tried her sour cream coffee cake.

Ingredients:

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 extra-large eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups sour cream
2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For the streusel:

*after reading the reviews, I doubled this part. :)

1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup chopped walnuts, optional *I left out

For the glaze:

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons real maple syrup *Instead I used 1 tbl milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp almond

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan.

Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for 4 to 5 minutes, until light. Add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla and sour cream. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Finish stirring with a spatula to be sure the batter is completely mixed.

For the streusel, place the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, and butter in a bowl and pinch together with your fingers until it forms a crumble. Mix in the walnuts, if desired.

Spoon half the batter into the pan and spread it out with a knife. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup streusel. Spoon the rest of the batter in the pan, spread it out, and scatter the remaining streusel on top. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.

*I just used a 10x13 and adjusted the baking time to 45ish minutes. Obviously this is something you wouldn't make every day, but it was SOOO good. Next time I might try switching out a lot of the butter for applesauce and maybe yogurt instead of sour cream, but I wanted to give it a try full force first.
Oh me. Oh my! I'd say it was worth it.
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I also made some baked oatmeal over the weekend for a family brunch we had. Yummy!

Ingredients:

3 cups rolled oats
1 cup brown sugar *I just used 1/2 cup
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter *I used 2 tbls butter and 1/2 cup applesauce
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup dried cranberries *I used raisins

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).


In a large bowl, mix together oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Beat in milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Stir in dried cranberries. Spread into a 9x13 inch baking dish.

Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes.

*I also made some fresh whipped cream for the top.

So I guess if you were looking for some healthy recipes....you should probably go here. (she's amazing!)