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Tuesday, May 8, 2012

BLISS!

Hello everyone!  I hope you all are enjoying your May so far.  We are getting our April showers a month late here, but that's OK because it gives me time to do all the things I should have done last month but didn't.  Like taking down the heavy draperies and hanging the lace and sheer ones. While I was at it, I  put a vase of pussy willows on the window sill.  One of the things I love most about this old house is that it has nice deep window ledges.  Perfect for flower vases.  Aren't pussy willows wonderful?  Something about them belongs in the fairy tale realm.  By the by, can you see how close our house is to the neighbors?  That should give you an idea about the size of the yard we have.  So no more excuses about lack of yard for not gardening, now!

Now if you have remained with me after my scolding, I will reward you with a picture of my little southern border garden. Ha!  At the moment it is in it's purple/lavender glory, with lilacs, tulips and aliums in bloom.  I'd like to take credit for planning such a beautiful display, but the truth is it is just one of those happy happenstances.  I planted the mini-mini lilacs (they only grow to two feet tall!) but the tulips were there from the previous owner.  And last year I bought the alium bulbs at the end of the season for a deeply discounted price.  After they sat around the house for a week or so, I decided I better get them planted before the snow flew, so I just popped them in where the ground was easiest to dig.  And there they are! The perfect companion to the tulips and lilacs.  What a delight to discover them this spring.  I'm ashamed to admit it, but I had forgotten all about them.  What a wonderful surprise!

May is also, the month of my dear husband Ran's birthday.  He requested kuchen or crumb cake for his birthday.  This picture doesn't do it justice, but it was the last piece grabbed away from you-know-who to get a shot before being eaten.  I love to bake, but with Jamie being not much of a sweets eater and me being perpetually on a diet, I rarely get the opportunity.  A far cry from the days when all the boys were at home and there were always big crowds of  neighborhood children lurking in the kitchen, waiting for cookies or pies to come out of the oven.  My neighbor Pam, dubbed our house The Bakery.  A very nice thing to be, indeed.  So anyway, when I do get an opportunity to bake something, I don't hold back.  Farm fresh  eggs, real butter  and vanilla, cane sugar, and sour cream with the higher fat content the better.  I warn you, this is not a health food! But birthday cakes shouldn't be, should they?

Kuchen

1/2 C. butter
1 C. sugar
2 eggs
1 C. (8oz.) sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Topping:
1/4 C. sugar
1/4 C. brown sugar (I use dark)
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 C. chopped nuts (I use pecans)

Cream butter and sugar together.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add the sour cream and vanilla; mix well.

Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well.

Spread half of the batter into a greased 9 inch baking pan.  Combine the topping ingredients and sprinkle half over the batter.  Spread the  remaining batter over top and sprinkle the remaining topping over the batter.  Gently swirl the topping with a butter knife through the batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

This is nice served with whipped cream and strawberries.  Maybe for a Mother's Day brunch?  I must confess we eat it  plain and warm from the oven, when the cinnamon part is all melty.  Tastes like a cinnamon roll.  Well, I hope that you all are enjoying and will continue to enjoy your lovely May. Until next time, I will leave you with a verse from my favorite hymn, Simple Gifts:

                                 And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
                                 "twill be in the valley of love and delight.





43 comments:

  1. This looks sinfully delish! I don't think I will even look at the ingredients I will then want to make it and I don't think I should.

    The flowers look lovely. Bulbs do not do well here daylilys do though. But not to many others do well the ones I would like to see at least.

    I love deep windows as well our home is newer but the previous owner who built the house put deep windows in and I love them. So do the cats. LOL

    Erika

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    1. Well the good thing about it, Erika, is that it only makes a 9" cake, so if you have a big enough family all you be able to enjoy is a little sliver. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it! Daylilys are nice. In the empty field behind our house, they grow wild with wild roses. A pretty combination.

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  2. dear jane,
    your window looks wonderful.....like the curtains.
    love your southern garden......the tulips and alliums looking wonderful.perfect the color-combi.
    mmmh and your cake makes me very hungry!! thanks for sharing the recipe!
    today is it sunny and warm,perfect for washing and working in the garden.
    wish you a wonderful day,
    love and hugs,regina

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    1. Hi Regina! The curtains came from a garage sale. As I was hanging them, I noticed that the tag said they were made in Scotland. They make lovely lace curtains there! It's cool here, but sunny. Unfortunately I have a dentist appointment, so I can't dig in the garden lest I get covered in mud. But hopefully tomorrow I can finally tackle the herb garden.

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  3. What pretty flowers. My garden is like a mud bath after weeks of torrential rain (very much needed though). I love deep windowsills. Its something I don't have in our modern house. Its hard to put anything at all on our windowsills. Happy birthday to your husband - the cakes looks lovely. No wonder there is only one slice left. Lily xxx

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    1. Hi Lily! We've been getting a lot of rain also. Was a bit worried because we had a rather dry spring up until a week ago. But I guess May is making up for it. Nice people are born in May - my husband, your pup! :)

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  4. The side garden looks just glorious! :) Truly lovely...all that blueish purple - lovely :)

    Happy Birthday to your dear husband. May the years continue to bring you joy!

    m.

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    1. Hi Maria! Thanks! I relay your birthday wishes to him. He likes reading the comments and says there's some really nice ladies that leave comments. Oh by the way, I did plant some "Maria" primroses. every time I look at them, I'm reminded of you.

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  5. These curtains are very nice. The kittens ( 'katjes' in my language) in the vase would give me a sneeze :-) Dutch people put many things on their windowsill. I have three green plants, an old-fashioned coffee grinder and a bunch of oil on the windowsill.

    What a beautiful color in your garden. Amazing! It will smell nice there. This cake would be nice. Save the next time a piece for me. Oh and congratulations. Your husband has a good cake choice.
    xxx

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  6. Sorry, in your language the flowers are: pussy willows :-) In my language katjes. When I translate katjes google translator says kittens. It must be pussy willows. But katjes is a cute name because the pussy willows are soft as a kitten.

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    1. Google translate does leave a bit to be desired doesn't it, Jedidja? Kittens is a better description anyway. They do look like little plump gray kittens. If it wouldn't go stale before it arrived, I'd wrap up a piece of cake and send it to you. I'm waiting for the tele-porting technology to happen. When it does, I'm going to visit all my blogging friends.

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  7. I love your curtains...so pretty. I have pussy willows in the planter on my front steps. They say "spring", don't they?

    Thanks for sharing the recipe. My FIL is Dutch and this recipe looks very similiar to a cake made in Holland. Do you know the origin of your recipe?

    Oh, and happy birthday to your hubby!

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    1. Hi Sandra! The recipe is German and comes from an old Ladies Aide cookbook from our home church. Published around 1950 or so. We would have used almonds for the nuts. A lot of the Dutch and German recipes are very similar. I've noticed that a lot of Dutch recipes use almonds too. Have you ever heard of banket? That's a Dutch pastry with an almond filling. Very rich!

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  8. Another thing we have in common - my husbands birthday is in May too! In fact, this weekend! I'm still trying to decide what to make for him ... he says "whatever you make will be perfect" .... so that leaves it wide open for me! I LOVE your flowers ... that is something I love about spring - rediscovering the bulbs you planted as they come up! So gorgeous!

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    1. All the best husband are born in May, Jane! I'm constantly moving things around in the garden, so I always get a surprise when the flowers start to bloom. I hope I don't forget and move these bulbs. I love the effect of these three plants together.

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  9. Hi Jane! A million thank you's for this Kuchen recipe! I have been looking for something like this for along time, it is one of Tony's childhood favorites. I have tried to make it before, but it never came out like he described it, but your picture looks just right! Your garden is beautiful, that deep purple flower is spectacular. Our friend who is helping me with the garden this year just finished up our flower beds yesterday afternoon. I am getting very excited now and we hope to get our plants in the ground sometime in the next two weeks. I am taking a little rest before getting dinner started. Tony called awhile back and said he had to miss his lunch so he is going to come home ready to eat! I am making Jambalaya, with sausage and shrimp. I think I'll also put in a plate of biscuits. We had a lot of rain earlier in the day and it has freshened everything up. Yesterday there was a huge blue heron high stepping around our pond, helping himself to a couple of fish! He was the biggest one I have ever seen. I hope you have a nice afternoon ahead my friend and thanks for the encouragement and sweet comments you left about the new blog. I sure do appreciate it very much! Delisa :)

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    1. I hope that this is the recipe, Delisa! Of course, nothing ever taste as it does in your memory, but this is pretty delicious. It will be nice for you to have a garden to work in. You know what they say about being nearest to God in a garden. that must have been something to see that heron. Don't you think they look sort of like a prehistoric bird? I'm learning new things from your new blog, Delisa. Hopefully it will make me more compassionate towards those with disabilities.

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  10. Hi Jane,
    I'm lovin'the crisp white curtains! If i didn't have a black husky mix dog shedding in the house I would hang some white curtains too. Oh well, I love the pussywillows, those I can do.
    By the way, in response to the comment a couple ahead of this: My husband's birthday is also in may! So it must be true that the best husbands are born in may!
    My daughter and her husband are coming over today to help with some yard stuff as I'm sort of out of commission. I am giving her some iris bulbs for their new home. Our yard is finally in the stage that even if we don't plant another thing there will still be plenty coming up on their own now that the deer have stopped eating all the shrubs that is. (we hung empty containers around everything during the winter months to deter them)

    ~God Bless~
    Lisa

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    1. Yes, I read that you are under the weather, Lisa. So sorry to hear that. Sounds like you have a good support system in your family. I don't think my yard will ever be finished. I'd love to one day have it covered entirely in gardens so that we won't have to mow the lawn.

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  11. Hi Jane! I just love, love, love your new header photo! Wow, I clicked on to your blog and the bright purple flowers just dazzled me. I hope you are having a nice evening tonight. I went into our little one street light town this morning to do a couple of errands and rested most of the afternoon. We had a big rainstorm yesterday, with raging wind and a severe thunderstorm alert. It left everything a little wind blown but sparkling and refreshed. I am still doing my tapestry and I am almost finished. I began a granny square afghan yesterday for our neighbor's little six year old girl. I found some ultra-sparkly pink yarn at Hobby Lobby, when I showed it to her, she squealed and just about popped, so I knew it was the right one! :) She and her little brother are such delightful children and they bring me a lot of joy. They don't have a lot of modern toys and video games and their mother crochets and makes them dolls and stuffed animals. They are so appreciative of any little thing you give them. It really touches my heart. Have a great day tomorrow! With Love, Delisa :)

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    1. Hello my sunshiney friend! I sent you an e-mail. Hope you get it it!

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  12. Just stopped in to your blog and realized I had missed this post. Your flower boarder is so pretty, I love blues, purples and pinks in the garden. I am so happy to see that there is such a thing as miniature lilacs, I grew up with the most lovely lilacs bushes, some were absolutely huge, and I loved their spring blossoms, I have always wanted to include them in my garden, which, as you know, is on the smaller side, I am definitely adding mini lilacs to my garden wish list! Your Kuchen sounds delicious! Happy Birthday to Ran, both my hubby and father also have May birthdays. Hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend!

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    1. I rechecked and it says these lilacs grow 3-4' tall. Don't know where I got the 2' idea from. Oh dear! They'll have to be pruned to keep them so small. I'm starting to believe that the best husbands ARE born in May! Your the fourth person to tell me there husband has a May birthdate,April! Jamie promises to help me rearrange the herb garden for Mother's Day. Can't think of a better way to spend the day! Hope you have a lovely Mums Day too!

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  13. Hi Jane! Beautiful flowers and pussy willows! Those lilacs are super-neat! And I really appreciate the kuchen recipe! I used to have one just like it, and I lost it about 20 years ago! And thanks to your advice, this year my hydrangeas have numerous buds!! I am intrigued by drying food....I think that is a great idea and way to go...and the less canning. Happy mom's day! love,andrea

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  14. p.s...since I am so fickle, and my original blog name is now available, (minus the "of" on it) I am thinking of starting a blog again.
    love,andrea

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    1. Go for it Andrea! I miss you. Wouldn't worry about the privacy issue anyhow, since we can assume when it comes to the internet, we don't have any. Happy to hear about the hydrangeas. That warm spell we had back in March made the buds come out on ours, then the cold and frosty weather killed them, so I don't think I'll be getting very many blooms this year. Oh well! When it comes to blogging, I'm fickle too. Been seriously thinking about quitting, but then someone will leave a nice comment and I reconsider. Hope you have a nice Mother's Day too. Bet things are busy around your place with the graduation and wedding quickly approaching!

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  15. Thanks Jane....you are my model for starting back up as I feel you blog very nicely...you don't over-do it and you write so well and I learn so much from you. I'm glad to see you're tempted to be fickle also though...makes me feel better. I'm trying to set up right now, and I'm a bit shaky at it. And you are correct...we have no privacy on the computer anyway! Yes you are right about graduation and the wedding...I can't wait until I have boring days again! love,andrea

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    1. Hi Andrea! Just keep your blog like you had it. It was like a chat from an old school chum! I'll put your blog on my sidebar, so I'll know when you finally have it up and running.

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  16. Bom fim de semana!
    Bom domingo!

    ¸.•°`♥✿⊱╮
    ❤♡
    FELIZ DIA DAS MÃES!!!

    Beijinhos.
    Brasil
    °º °♫♫♪¸.•°`

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  17. Dear Jane,

    What lovely curtains and flowers! I didn't even know that mini-mini lilacs existed (and now they're on my list of must-haves). :)

    A happy birthday to your industrious man, and may he have his best year ever.

    A blessed Mother's Day to you, tomorrow, as well.

    Love,

    Marqueta

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  18. Those mini lilacs are so adorable, Marqueta. They have smaller blloms to match their size. I have a little stickpin that you can put a flower bud in,so much fun with these little lilacs. And a better perfume you'll never find! Hope you are having a lovely Mother's Day!

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  19. Hi Jane! How are you today? I hope you are having a nice monday. It is raining cats and dogs. The sky is charcoal gray with clouds and the thunder is booming and rattling all the windows. The early darkness has made Barkley all sleepy and cuddly and he is curled up next to my as I type with his head in my lap. 80lbs. of puppy! I loved looking at your flower photos agains. This rain has put me in a baking mood, I am going to try and make your Kuchen recipe tonight. I 'll let you know how it comes out! Have a lovely afternoon ahead! Delisa :)

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  20. Hi Delisa! Send me some of your rain please! Nothing like a pup to spend a rainy day with. Hope Tony finds the kuchen to his liking.

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  21. It is a gray day down here in s.e. FL and we've had rain off and on with more expected.

    I love that photo of your window ledge with pussy willows and lacy curtains.

    The kuchen recipe looks delicious. I need to get some sour cream. Can plain yogurt be substituted for sour cream?

    Hope your weekend is a lovely one.

    FlowerLady

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    1. Hi Rainey! Sure you can use yogurt. I've even used thinned down sour cream with milk, when I didn't have enough. Hope you have a lovely weekend too. Gee whiz! It's the weekend again?! Where does the time go?

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  22. Hi Jane! Thanks for your comments. You are lucky to live where you do! Although I get very seasick, I love the ocean and waterways. I grew up in mountainous woods, so that tires me a bit! love,andrea

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    1. I get seasick too, Andrea. My father used to take me out on his tugboat, but I was always afraid to walk the plank between the dock and the deck. So that all ended when I got to big to be carried across.

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  23. Hi Jane! I was just thinking about you and thought I would stop by and say hello! I hope you are having a good weekend so far. It has been a busy and rainy week here in my neck of the woods but I have had a quiet day today and I am making a big pot of jambalya. It sure is starting to smell good. I found some beautiful shrimp the other day and it is going to be a treat. I hope you have a fun Saturday night! Delisa :)

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    1. Hello Delisa! Working in the garden this weekend. Jambalya sounds good. When we finished in the garden, Jamie and I took a ride and stopped in at an old-fashioned drive-in. They make the best onion rings!

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  24. Hi Jane! I hope you had a nice day today. Those onion rings sound so good! I would love a hamburger right now to go with those onion rings and a good chocolate milk shake!
    Tony and I were just saying the other day that we haven't tasted a good milkshake in years. They are either too thin and milky or too thick and gummy. I miss those old diners with the silver milkshake mixers, pie counters and red vinyl seats. :) Have a nice evening ahead! With Love, Delisa :)

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    1. Or how about a Chocolate malt, Delisa? Can you even buy malts anymore? If I wasn't so lactose-intolerant and knew I'd be doubled over in pain from it, I'd drive over and get one! Guess that's the silver lining to having that problem. Think of all the calories I saved!

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  25. Kuchen? This is the cake that my girls made me (per my request) for Mother's Day and my birthday this month. We always called it Grandma Joan's sour cream coffee cake. That's what it says on the recipe card. Kuchen eh? I like that much better. Of course we'll still put granny's name on it (so we remember how we came to have it)... Grandma Joan's Kuchen...

    Blessings, Debbie

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    1. Well, happy belated birthday, Debbie! The little community I grew up in was primarily German and Polish, they even had a German-speaking school when my mom was growing up and we had an occasional church service in it. I guess WWII put an end to that. Anyway, German is still part of our vernacular!

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