The Afternoon Coffee Klatch

The best laid plans of house hunting...

The Coffee Klatch....A casual social gathering for coffee and conversation.

And so we begin.....the search is on for finding the perfect house back in Texas. So today, in pouring rain, we ran in and out of homes making notes of the good, the bad and the ugly! I am always polite and bring a clean pair of sock booties along and leave my shoes by the front door. I am afraid I am a germaphobe when it comes to shoes indoors and request no one wear their shoes inside the house. Friends and family just know to fall in line when visiting and comply with the rule! I fell in love with the first home....ruled out the second home and the third one just went under contract. Perhaps it is too much on our plate....selling one home and buying another, two weddings in the near future, rehearsal dinners, decorating a new apartment for number three son, beginning a new job....how about we just take some time out and enjoy an afternoon delight of cake and coffee.....sounds like a good plan!

ESTELLE'S "LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON COFFEE CAKE"
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3 extra-large eggs, room temperature

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups sour cream

2 1/2 cups cake flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Streusel

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

 Glaze

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons real maple syrup

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.

CAFE A LAIT

1 cup ground coffee with chicory

3 cups water

3 cups light cream or milk

Using coffee with chicory and water, prepare coffee according to coffee maker directions. Meanwhile, in medium saucepan heat the light cream or milk over low heat. Beat with rotary beater until foamy. Transfer cream to a warmed serving container. Stir coffee; pour coffee and cream in equal amounts into serving cups.