Busy Brunette Bakerista

My homemade coffee cake recipes don't call for actual coffee but they are delicious. Well, I tired another recipe in the fabulous cookbook Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook and this coffee cake is moist, light and has the sweetest crumble in the middle (also has no coffee ). It does take a while so remember to follow the directions to every detail. Enjoy! BITDB Coffee Cake Streusel Ingredients ¼ cup packed light brown sugar ½ cup unbleached all-purpose flour 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt 3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional) 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes Cake Ingredients 2 ½ cups cake flour (not self-rising) 2 teaspoons baking powder, preferably aluminum-free ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon fine sea salt ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom (I used pumpkin pie spice to give it a little more texture) 12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 ½ cups granulated sugar 3 large eggs,...

Californians are known for eating healthy, exercising, and always on the go. I found a simple recipe for homemade granola in an old magazine and adapted it to just the right ratio of spice, crunch, and dried fruit. My friend and neighbors love this and I often make it for teacher gifts. Enjoy! Crunchy California Granola 4 cups of rolled oats  1 cup of wheat germ or wheat bran 1 cup of slivered almonds 1/2 cup of sesame seeds  1/4 cup of brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon  (or even pumpkin pie spice) 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup vegetable or canola oil 1/3 cup honey 1/6 cup maple syrup 1/6 cup water 8 oz. dried cranberries 8 oz. raisins Pre-eat oven to 300 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with tin foil and spray with cooking spray, then set aside. In a large mixing bowl, stir together oats, wheat germ, nuts, sesame seeds, brown sugar, cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice), and salt. Make a well in the dry ingredients and ad...

Stove Top Macaroni-n-Cheese-n-Sausage Casserole It’s that time of year for Spring gatherings and brunch events. Here is an easy mac-n-cheese recipe that will "wow" everyone!  Cooking spray ¼ teaspoon black pepper 12 ounces large elbow macaroni 2 – 4 cups shredded extrasharp cheese 1 package chicken-apple-sausage 2 egg whites 1 (12oz.) can evaporated low-fat milk 1/8 cup prepared breadcrumbs 4 Tablespoons butter **roasted cherry tomatoes Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook macaroni in boiling water 7 minutes and then drain.  While pasta is cooking, slice sausage into 1 inch pieces and sauté for a few minutes in a pan until soft.  Set aside.   Place pasta in a large pan over medium-low heat and stir in cheese, sausage, egg whites, and evaporated milk.  Cook for 4 minutes until cheese melts stirring constantly.  Spray 9” x 12” casserole dish with cooking spray. Pour macaroni and cheese mixture into dish....

Easy holiday dessert…shakes at Ruby's Shake Shack!  The other day I made my holiday baking time even easier by visiting our favorite dessert spot in Orange County, Ruby's Shake Shack in Newport Coast's Crystal Cove . Not only can you order a great lunch with a beautiful view, you can choose from over a dozen flavor combinations of famous Ruby's shakes. My son is a shake aficionado and says these are the best!

Overnight No-Coffee Cake A variation of sorts, this is more of a cake than a breakfast food. I adapted it from one of my favorite Junior League cookbooks (a must for any baker). It tastes better than any restaurant bakery version and your guests and family will love the texture!   Stop what you are doing, buy these ingredients, make this cake! 2 cups of flour 1 cup of granulated white sugar 1 cup of buttermilk (do not substitute) 2 / 3 cup butter, softened ½ cup brown sugar 1 T. cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon of salt Yummy Topping ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 – 3 T. butter, melted Spray and coat a 9” x 13” baking dish with cooking spray. Using an electric mixer, combine all cake ingredients in the mixing bowl and mix at low speed until well-blended for about 4 minutes.  Pour into prepared dish using a spatula. Mix the dry topping ingredients in a medium bowl and sprinkle evenly o...