
Honestly, I can't imagine my afternoon without a little slice of cake. Life just seems more civilized when the afternoon comes with a tea and cake break. However, as we continue to work rain or shine to get the vineyard land prepped for planting, cake breaks are becoming scarce. It's sacrilegious. I need to remember to pack cake.
Nothing delights me more than walking into a coffee shop and seeing sliced cake for sale in the big glass cases. But, while I love my coffee black, I like my tea sweet (honey, cream and a touch of sugar). This is what makes this cake more of a tea cake for me. It's not overly sweet, it's more of an adult sweet, as in, not so sweet. Again, perfect with my sweet tea.
This particular recipe does not call for butter but utilizes grape seed oil in the recipe, I'm assuming for its clean and light taste. Could you substitute another oil...probably. Let me know how it turns out.
Anyway, enjoy this recipe, it's lovely.
Sift together 1 cup plus 3 Tablespoons flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
Beat brown sugar, oil, Cointreau (or water) and vanilla in a separate bowl with electric mixer until smooth. Beat in eggs. Alternately add flour mixture and yogurt to egg mixture until combined.
Toss blueberries with remaining 1 Tablespoon flour and fold into batter. 
Grease and flour a 9 x 5 loaf pan. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in a 350 degree oven for 70 minutes (mine only took 50 minutes, possibly even less but I hadn't checked on it; that's a big discrepancy to me so watch your cake starting at 45 minutes) or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before flipping out of pan.
To make glaze: Whisk together all ingredients in small bowl. Poke holes all over the top of the cake with a wooden skewer. Brush cake with glaze. Cool completely before serving.
This will make your afternoon.
Blueberry Yogurt Cake with Lemon Glaze
Adapted from Vegetarian Times
Cake
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/4 cup cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup grape seed oil
2 Tablespoons Cointreau liqueur (or water)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, room temperature
7 oz. Greek yogurt
2/3 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (thawed)
Glaze
3 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 Tablespoons light brown sugar
1 Tablespoon Cointreau liqueur (or water)
Sift together 1 cup plus 3 Tablespoons flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
Beat brown sugar, oil, Cointreau (or water) and vanilla in a separate bowl with electric mixer until smooth. Beat in eggs. Alternately add flour mixture and yogurt to egg mixture until combined.
Toss blueberries with remaining 1 Tablespoon flour and fold into batter.
Grease and flour a 9 x 5 loaf pan. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in a 350 degree oven for 70 minutes (mine only took 50 minutes, possibly even less but I hadn't checked on it; that's a big discrepancy to me so watch your cake starting at 45 minutes) or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before flipping out of pan.
To make glaze: Whisk together all ingredients in small bowl. Poke holes all over the top of the cake with a wooden skewer. Brush cake with glaze. Cool completely before serving.
One Year Ago: I'm Seriously Considering...
Two Years Ago: Are You a Geek, a Nerd or a Dork?













Every once in a while, the stars align: a magical setting. The flickering call and response of candlelight touches the senses.

The right group of friends. Cool night breezes filled with laughter and conversations that run deep and late into the night.
And, of course, the food...the fancy, incredible food. The meal itself...love incarnate. Blood Orange Martinis prepare our palates for miniature blintzes dolloped in salmon cream followed by sips of ice cold, luxury Dutch vodka. Sautéed radicchio leaves wrap and lovingly showcase asparagus, prosciutto and cheese, while pairing well with fifteen year old French Champagne.
Endive from Belgium drizzled generously with a bright, white-balsamic vinaigrette, easily cradle pungent Danish blue cheese and crunchy, candied-pecans . Warm, crusty rolls begin to make their way around the table....still more French Champagne to enjoy.
Then, lobster done two ways....first bisqued, then tails stuffed with crab, lobster and buttery cream. The tails sit atop clouds of creamy Yukon Golds and saddle nicely with tender green beans doused in a warm bacon-shallot vinaigrette. Tender Italian white wine and bold California Chardonnays quench the palate as the homemade bread makes another pass around the table.
The red wines begin to surface just in time for a decadent offering of indulgent, molten chocolate cake presented with vanilla ice cream and sprinkled gingerly with cocoa dust and a smattering of confectioner's sugar. Sliced, sweet strawberries generously round out the plate, as well as our stomachs.
While the wines of Oregon, Washington, California, France and Italy kept us in high spirits...tea, coffee and water kept us grounded.
This type of cherished evening does leave you pining for more stories, smiles and memories of friends...but mostly...for another supper club.
Can't wait until the next one.
















I love scones, but I don't enjoy making them. There I said it. Kneading the dough, shaping it...maybe that sounds lazy but right now life is busy with no extra time for little things like, kneading and shaping dough.
That's what I love about these scones, you gently stir the batter together, mounding up each scone individually. So easy!
However, the trick with scones remains; over-handling the batter will make them tough. Mixing must be kept to a minimum for optimum results.
These scones were quite toothsome with their mix of blueberries, cornmeal and lime zest. Lime juice was also added to the glaze to really bring home and incorporate the flavors at play.
Overall, a lovely, easy breakfast to enjoy. Not overly sweet and perfect with coffee or tea.
In a large bowl combine flour, cornmeal, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter until flour mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Make a well in the center of the cornmeal mixture adding buttermilk, egg and lime zest. With a fork beat the egg and buttermilk until combined. Stir all the batter together just until moistened being careful not to overmix here.
Toss frozen blueberries with cornstarch to coat; add to flour mixture. Stir gently 3 to 5 turns, just until berries are incorporated (do not overmix).
Using a large spoon, drop dough into 10 or 12 mounds on a large baking sheet that has been coated with cooking spray, leaving 1" between mounds. Bake in a 450 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until tops are golden. Remove from tray immediately onto a cooling rack.
For icing, in a small bowl whisk enough lime juice into powdered sugar until drizzling consistency. Drizzle over warm scones. Sprinkle with nuts.
Serve warm.
Cornmeal-Blueberry Scones
Adapted from Better Homes & Gardens
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup cold butter; cut up
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1-1/2 teaspoons lime zest
1 cup frozen blueberries*
1 teaspoon cornstarch
Nonstick cooking spray
3 to 4 teaspoons lime juice
1 cup powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons chopped almonds, toasted
In a large bowl combine flour, cornmeal, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter until flour mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center of the cornmeal mixture adding buttermilk, egg and lime zest. With a fork beat the egg and buttermilk until combined. Stir all the batter together just until moistened being careful not to overmix here. Toss frozen blueberries with cornstarch to coat; add to flour mixture. Stir gently 3 to 5 turns, just until berries are incorporated (do not overmix).
Using a large spoon, drop dough into 10 or 12 mounds on a large baking sheet that has been coated with cooking spray, leaving 1" between mounds. Bake in a 450 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until tops are golden. Remove from tray immediately onto a cooling rack.
For icing, in a small bowl whisk enough lime juice into powdered sugar until drizzling consistency. Drizzle over warm scones. Sprinkle with nuts. Serve warm.
*Leave berries in the freezer until ready to toss with cornstarch.




