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| JUST OUT OF THE OVEN AND STILL WARM...HUBBY'S PIECE IS MISSING |
Today, Wednesday, was a kitchen day. No time for office work or errands. And with many hours spent cooking, some of it repetitive, I also had thinking time.
A 20-year-old daughter of a friend, who lives just one street south of us, came home from college for spring break a couple of weeks ago and announced that she had decided to get married this coming Friday...in only two days...and wanted a lovely reception with about 300+ people........
Well, my friend has been in the panic mode ever since. I offered to do a big job for her, and you guessed it, she asked me to cook. The daughter wants, among other foods, crepes filled with a pudding and fresh berries and topped with cream. They wondered if I would help them find a good recipe for the pudding and then make it, 10+ gallons of pudding as a filler for the crepes. That is what took up most of my day. 10 gallons of luscious pudding. That’s 332+ cups. I feel like I am still stirring. It’s probably double what they need, but I figure it will settle just a little, and it’s better to have too much than too little. And no one will mind having some leftovers. (Note: It all turned out perfectly...lots of nice comments, and this pudding did not settle at all...stayed light and delicious as if just made that afternoon.)
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| 10 GALLONS PUDDING |
Last week I took them several sample flavors and the one they chose, the one they love the most, and is for them wedding worthy, is our “Baked” Malted Diplomat Cream which was used in the Malted Crisp Tarts. So a big “thanks” to Matt and Renato and this group for a new recipe that delights my friend and makes the bride very happy.
After completing my project and cleaning up my mess...and believe me, there was quite a mess, I felt velcroed to the kitchen and decided to bake the New York-Style Crumb Cake. After giving away all the lovely pudding I was wishing I had kept a little; I really needed something sweet and fun. Hubby had evening meetings so I just kept going in the food department.
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| CRUMB TOPPING IS RESTING |
Before moving to sunny AZ twenty something years ago, we lived in New York. It is amazing how different the ingredients and foods are on the other side of this country. I’d forgotten about Crumb Cake and am happy to be reacquainted after may years. Even though I really wanted to add some berries or other flavorings/mix-ins, I followed the recipe as written with great results. When hubby came home after 10 pm from a very long day of work and meetings, he was delighted to be greeted by this just-out-of-the-oven cake...he was really hungry. He totally likes the cake and, tomorrow for breakfast, plans to eat more with some vanilla ice cream and strawberries...sounds good to me. Sometimes you need a good cake and ice cream breakfast.
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| EGGS DON'T GET ANY FRESHER...FROM FRIENDS WHO ARE HOPING FOR A TASTE |
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| AND GROCERY STORE EGGS ARE NOT THIS YELLOW |
This cake has a sweet, crunchy, chunky crumb that tops a vanilla/sour cream cake. Together these two layers are classic. My previous recipe, not baked in many years, used buttermilk and cake flour making a finer, lighter crumb, but I actually love the flavor and texture of today’s cake the best. I lined my pan with parchment paper just so that tomorrow I can take what’s left of this cake to the office with ease.
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| BATTER SPREAD INTO PARCHMENT LINED BAKING PAN |
I was thinking...I told you I was thinking today... while baking that if this cake is good, I will make another tomorrow, and it is good. I need to make a visit and take something cheerful with me. I have another close friend who, instead of helping a daughter with a wedding, today helped a daughter of the same age, give up her newborn baby.
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| JUST OUT OF THE OVEN |
About 7 months ago, this unwed mother announced that she was pregnant, and after hurting her family with her news, went on to further announce that she was planning to abort the baby. The father would pay for the abortion. I won’t go into all the details except to say that with much hard work the parents worked with their daughter and convinced her to have the baby which will now bless the lives of a couple who has been unable to have biological children. The girl is now thankful that she did not multiply her mistakes and turn them into more hurtful events that she would regret for life, as she really believes that abortion is wrong. The healthy, beautiful baby boy, born Sunday, is going to other friends, and the adoption is open. This girl can visit her child with the arrangements agreed upon, and the child will always know that his mother loved him so much that she gave him up for a better life. But I do not say this lightly. I know today is one of the hardest days in my friend’s life, and I'm sure even harder for her daughter who is also my friend. Today has been so difficult for all her family. Giving away a child is a terrible thing, but for those on the other side, it brings immeasurable joy...and our family knows about this first hand. We have 2 adopted daughters along with our 5 biological children, and a daughter and her hubby have adopted 2 of their 3 children. I can’t imagine life without them. Each is so precious.
I’ll get some fresh berries and a carton of ice cream and hopefully a tasty New York-Style Crumb Cake will let this friend know that we care.
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| TENDER CRUMB THAT IS STURDY ENOUGH TO HOLD A CHUNKY TOPPING |
