"Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived."
-Jean Luc Picard

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Let Them Eat Cake!

Mr. Hairball was raised on box cakes with canned frosting and thoroughly enjoyed them until he met me. In fact, one of his favorite cakes was a cinnamon streusel cake made from a mix, and he refused for years to even entertain the thought of me making a scratch version of this cake. One day, I go to the grocery store to buy his streusel cake mix and I can't find it at the store. I go home and tell him and he grudgingly agrees to try a homemade version since his beloved box mix is no longer available. Thankfully, after a few tries I came up with something that he liked and household harmony was restored once more.

The streusel mixture is from my 1950 Betty Crocker Picture Cook Book. The original recipe made half the amount I have listed below. This cake is for Mr. Hairball and he likes a lot of streusel mixture in his cake. LOL

Streusel Mixture
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped nuts

Toss together until mixed.

For the cake portion of the program, we will be using a recipe from the Hillbilly Housewife website and substituting butter for the margarine.


Lucy has very kindly agreed to be the background for this shot. In other words, she's blocking out all the crapola that was on the back of my counter. *snorts*


Preheat your oven to 350F. We will be making this cake in a well greased and floured bundt pan so prepare your pan.


Butter and sugar have been creamed and the eggs, vanilla, and salt have been added to the bowl.

Here I've added the baking powder, flour, powdered milk and the equivalent amount of water for the milk. I'm low on milk and saving what is left for drinking. Veteran bakers will note that all of the flour and milk goes in at one time instead of in stages.


Place 1/4 of the streusel mixture in the bottom of your prepared bundt pan. The pan really is clean it's just quite old and has had many cakes baked in it!


Top that with half of the cake batter.


Then add the rest of the streusel mixture.


I've started adding the remaining cake batter.


Now smooth it all out with your spatula and bake it at 350F for 35-40 minutes or until it tests done. Leave in bundt pan for about 15 minutes and then invert onto serving dish or platter and let cool completely. Once the cake is completely cool, it's time to glaze that bad boy. Once again, the amount of glaze is doubled here per Mr. Hairball's request.

Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 tablespoons milk, cream, half and half, etc...
1/4 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Mix above ingredients until smooth and drizzle over your cooled cake.


Sorry this one is so dark. Mr. Hairball was begging me to hurry up and glaze it so he could eat some so I glazed it right there on the dining table.


Here's a shot back in kitchen after he ate some cake and I packed some up for his lunch. Note the large dark ribbon of streusel mixture there in the middle.

8 comments:

Donna-FFW said...

I LOVE that thick layer of streusel in the middle.. and the glaze dripping down, I so want some... as you would say.. BIG MAJOR DROOL!

Heather Cherry said...

My sis-in-law also prefers box cakes to scratch. Cracks me up! Oh, and please to fax me a slice o dat, kthxbai.

Hairball T. Hairball said...

Thanks Donna and Heather. We really need to figure out how to email food to people!

Mr. Hairball has long since been converted to a scratch cake and frosting lover. In fact, someone recently made him a cake to thank him for helping them with something. He brings the cake home and we are discussing what a sweet gesture it was and how he should write this person a thank you note. I then ask him how the cake was and he shudders and tells me that the cake part is okay but the frosting is that "cream cheese flavored crap from a can" and that he will not be eating anymore of it.

You really had to be there, it was hilarious! LOL

Lidian said...

That looks quite amazing, it does. And I love that Lucy background you've got going - from my favorite episode yet! (Her expression is similar to mine when I get up in the morning, pre-coffee).

The Gossiper said...

I'll admit, I have a weakness for box cakes. I do have some good scratch recipes that I like too-it just depends on my mood.

I'm especially partial to streusal cakes. The box he liked wouldn't happen to be Krusteaz would it? My mom always made it from scratch but mine never turned out as good as hers so I make her mail me the box. I'm spoiled...I'll try the recipe though I'm already drooling.

Heather Cherry said...

Oh, HAHAHAHA! Good eye, Liddy! I din't even notice Lucy with the Vitameatavegamin in the background! It's full o' mitavins and nimerals, you know...

Dr. Julie-Ann said...

Hmmm, this looks yummy! I'm feeling under the weather I think it just might be the ticket to pick me up. Of course, I have no idea where my bundt cake pan is. The last time I saw it was when me moved from the loft 6 years ago. Tells you how often I've needed it!

Just fax my slice to me at 555-1212, okay?

Hairball T. Hairball said...

Lidian, the Vitameatavegamin episode and the one about the freezer are two of my favorites!

Public Artist, I don't think it was Krusteaz but then I haven't bought a streusel cake mix since the mid-nineties. I believe you could make a wonderful homemade streusel cake! :)

Heather Cherry, LOL

Dr. Julie Ann I'm sorry to hear you are not feeling well! I bet you could probably make this in a 9x13 pan with a few changes. Omit sprinkling some of the streusel mix in the bottom, keep a close eye on the baking time, and just glaze the very top of the cake. I plan to try this the next time I make this cake.