Whole Wheat Walnut Cake

As much as this blog is about baking and eating and just smiling. I have to tell you about this new book I got. Many of you may have it or have heard of Melissa Clark . I am literally obsessed with her and her book and the stories behind her recipes.

The best part is that each recipe has a story about it  letting you into her life and now I pretty much want to be her best friend...I know weird...right?

Well, the whole wheat walnut bread she has in her book is something really special. I made mine into a sandwich and added some whipped cream cheese and ate it with a giant smile. The same smile I get when reading Melissa's book! You have to love the stories and joy that comes from food...Smile!

Pink Grapefruit Yogurt Cake

Thank you for all the suggestions for my Mom's birthday dessert. Life as suddenly become one fun filled event after another! I can't complain.... no complaining here! 

This pink grapefruit cake is the perfect combo of tart and sweet. Muddling the sugar with the zest created an aroma of pure goodness.... pure pure goodness. 

The cake requires no mixer ( added plus in my book) and stayed moist and delicious two to three days after the celebration. The grapefruit glaze made sure of that! 

Blueberry Lemon Cake

Yes, Yes I know what you are thinking... lemons again!! What the heck is her deal? She adds them to cookies, muffins and salad dressing. Um...yes...I am fully aware that I have been on a lemon kick lately... I do love me some lemons.

Especially in this cake with big ol' plump blueberries. 

See how happy they are... floating in a sea of yogurt lemon batter. They are smiling.. can't you tell. 

You will smile too after taking a bite out of this easy Lemon Cake. 

Chocolate Streusel Coffee Cake

Yes!!!!  High Five!!  A cake to go with one of my true loves... Coffee.
I remember as a little kid getting coffee at my Nana and Papa's house after Sunday dinner. Although my "coffee" was basically cream and sugar with a coffee splash. Sitting at the dining room table with my family and my coffee made me feel  very grown up and important. And this cake is  a very grown up and important version of coffee cake.

Not your usual cinnamon and butter crumble coffee cake. The crumb is very dense and the chocolate "streusel" filling gives you a burst of cocoa and spice that reminds me of  Mexican hot chocolate.

The cake is easy to assemble and even held up until the next morning where is was shared with co-workers. For the first time I used a scale to weigh all of my ingredients as Rose's Heavenly Cakes has her recipes with the ingredients broken down into measurements by volume or by weight. The process of weighing all of the ingredients took the guess work out of measuring. It was especially helpful when measuring the sour cream. I am going to have to take Rose's advice and use the scale more often.  (Thanks for the scale, Mom.)

So try this coffee cake for your next work meeting, morning pot luck or  simply with a good cup of Joe.....I am sure that my Grandparents would have!