Wordless Wednesday - Thrift Shop Find

Frugal Floozie Friday - Jefferson Market and Cakery

Craig has a sweet tooth. His makes my own infamous one hang its head in shame.

So it didn't take a lot of work to persuade Craig to join me at Jefferson Market and Cakery one afternoon for coffee and treats. Not a full meal, admittedly; but then, one doesn't always require a full meal. Sometimes one just requires a bit of comfort and a little something delicious. These desserts were perfect.

For less than $5 per person - our mandatory Frugal Floozie Friday budget - I was able to enjoy the gorgeous Red Velvet cupcake pictured above plus a cup of coffee: $1.75 for the former, $2 for the latter (a small one). Rich frosting, tender cake ... a lovely snack.

Craig chose the beautiful Berry Bar for $3.50 - a crisp crust, a thin layer of custard, ripe fruits, and a crumbly topping.  A bit sweet, a bit tart, and entirely wonderful!

Coffees and chai range in price from $2-2.75. Now that Spring is here and cool drinks are desired, both lemonade and iced tea cost only $2.

You can also buy sandwiches, ranging in price from $6.99-7.99; they're served with house-made chips. One of these could be split, making sure to save room for one of the amazing pastries, and you could still come in under our mandatory budget.

Jefferson Market is a bright, friendly place that offers free wi-fi and a warm welcome to loiter while talking or working. And it's such fun to peer behind the back counter to watch the artists at the Cakery creating unique masterpieces for special events; they make such gorgeous celebration cakes!

Jefferson Market. As its own website says, "Cafe, Cakes ... Bliss!"

Jefferson Market and Cakery
609 West Jefferson
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734-665-6666
Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday Brunch: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.



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Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake

I baked a chocolate cake the other night. Does anyone really need a reason to do this??? I think not!

It's very easy to make a one-layer cake - bake it before dinner, let it cool, frost it after dinner, enjoy it for dessert. Really!

I took my basic chocolate cake recipe, which I'm proud to say won a Grand Prize in Taste of Home's cupcake contest in 2007. The magazine called them "Special Mocha Cupcakes," and they're great whether baked into individual servings or into one larger cake.

So whether you're looking for a contribution for a bake sale, a birthday cake, or just a treat 'cause it's winter and it's cold and it's dreary ... well, here's just what you need!

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake

Cake:

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup cold brewed coffee
• 1/2 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 3 teaspoons cider vinegar
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract

Frosting:

• 6 tablespoons milk chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon brewed coffee
• 1-2 tablespoons half-and-half

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8" cake pan, line the bottom with foil, then grease the foil.

Make the cake: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt, and sugar. In a large measuring cup, whisk together the coffee, oil, eggs, vinegar, and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ones, whisk just to combine.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake rest for 15 minutes, run a knife around the edge to loosen it, then turn it out of the baking pan. Remove the foil, turn the cake right-side up, and let cool completely.

Make the frosting: Melt the chocolate chips, then place into a large mixing bowl with the butter. Using an electric mixer, beat the chocolate and butter together. Add 1 cup of confectioners' sugar, and beat on "low" just to combine. Add the coffee and beat to combine. Add the rest of the confectioners' sugar plus 1 tablespoon of the half-and-half; beat on "low" to combine, then beat on "high" to whip the frosting. If it's still a bit thick or dry, add the remaining tablespoon of half-and-half.

Place the cooled cake onto a serving platter. Tuck small pieces of foil under the cake and over the edges of the platter, to catch dripping frosting. Spread some of the frosting along the sides of the cake, then spread the remaining frosting over the top. Carefully remove the foil strips, and serve.

Makes 8-12 servings.

Frugal Floozie Friday - The Northside Grill

Jeremy and I enjoyed a great breakfast at The Northside Grill this week, thus making it today's Frugal Floozie Friday feature. Tremendously friendly service, a festive atmosphere, and great food made it a wonderful place to visit!

I debated many options, as always, from the classic dish of an egg with hash browns and a biscuit to an assortment of side dishes to splitting a sandwich. But I settled upon two items, for a bit of variety: fried eggs served "over easy" plus a warm bear claw proudly made in-house. Generously filled with walnuts and fragrant with cinnamon, the pastry was perfect with my vanilla-flavored coffee. It was a tremendous value at only $2.29.

The eggs - costing a mere $1.25 each, ordered a la carte - were perfectly cooked, and were a nice complement to the sweet treat.

Jeremy, as usual, was much more decisive than I was and readily settled upon the short stack of buttermilk pancakes for $4.39. This was an enormous serving that fully covered the plate, and I can't even imagine being able to finish a full portion! Tender and light, with just a hint of tartness in contrast to the syrup, Jeremy told me he can't remember the last time he enjoyed a plate of pancakes so much.

Another option, had we not been there for breakfast, would have been the Brownie Sundae "topped with ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, walnuts and a cherry. Enough for two!" At $5.75, this would readily have met our per person budgetary requirement.

From an assortment of side dishes to pastries, from muffins to soups and chilis, and even plate-sized single pancakes or servings of French toast, there are many frugal options to choose from at The Northside Grill. That you also get a warm welcome, free coffee refills, and the comfort of a neighborhood hang-out only makes the deals that much better.

The Northside Grill
1015 Broadway
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
734-995-0965
Open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.



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Cappuccino Biscotti

Ridiculously easy to make, and also ridiculously good, these biscotti are deceptively "plain Jane"s.

You could dress them up a bit by dipping them in chocolate. But you know what? It's unnecessary. They're exceptionally good "as is" - a wispy hint of cinnamon shining through the coffee flavor, a bit of crunch from the walnuts contrasting with the slight chewiness of the centers. Chocolate never hurts, but sometimes it's just superfluous ... really!

Here are some other Christmas cookie recipes, if - like me - you're in the midst of a baking spree:

Chocolate Snickerdoodles

Cookie Butter Cookies

Apple Oatmeal Cookies

Butterscotch Pretzel Brownies

Toasted Coconut Haystacks

Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

Blueberry Walnut Rugelach

Ginger Shortbread

Holiday M&M Cookies


Cappuccino Biscotti
(adapted from a recipe from Better Homes & Gardens)

• 1-1/3 cups + 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 2 tablespoons brewed coffee
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 325F. Lightly grease a baking sheet.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stir together the egg, oil, and coffee; pour over the dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in the walnuts.

Divide the dough in half; shape each half into a log 2" around and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Slightly flatten the logs, then bake for 20 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let the logs cool for 30 minutes. Remove logs to a cutting board, and cut into 1/2" slices. Place the slices, cut-side up, onto the baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes. Carefully flip the slices over, and bake for 10-15 minutes until toasted and slightly crisp.

Remove biscotti to a rack and cool completely.

Makes 24 biscotti.

Chicago, Chicago

I took a mini vacation recently to Chicago, and had the most wonderful time!  Food, fun, friends ... it was fabulous!

Initially, my plan was to attend the exceptional and extraordinary exhibit of Roy Lichtenstein's work at The Art Institute of Chicago.  However, that morphed into a plan to finally meet my blogging buddy (so woefully inadequate a term!) Leanne, of From Chaos Comes Happiness, so that we could tour the retrospective together.  Leanne is both an artist and a beautiful, kind soul; she was the perfect person to attend this event with.

Sometimes you just know that you've found a cherished friend, even if you've never met her.  Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett fell in love via letters, after all.  Words have meaning, and Leanne's sincerity, empathy, and heart pour through in hers.  Her sister-in-law noted that our cyber-"relationship" and long-sought meeting reminded her of finding a new boyfriend on a dating site!  But we knew that we were already friends, rather than merely hopeful that we'd like each other.  Sometimes you just know ....

Leanne came running down the stairs of the Art Institute as I ran up them  - we had agreed, in a fashion similar to meeting at the Empire State Building in "An Affair to Remember," to meet at the south lion out front - and we squealed and hugged and smiled and laughed ... oh, it was so wonderful to finally really see her smile, the shine in her eyes, her joy!  We wandered in to the museum and were off on our adventure.

I have to truly say that the Lichtenstein retrospective is amazing!  Oh, the breadth and depth of it, from the earliest work to ones completed shortly before his death; from sculptures to the well-known comic strip paintings; and from homages to predecessors like Monet and Picasso to Asian-inspired landscapes.  Leanne and I kept leaning in to the pictures, studying and analyzing the color schemes, the famous screened dots ... until we were chastised a couple of times by the security guards for getting too close and for - gasp! - pointing.  We weren't just admiring, but really wanted to understand the process and the technique, as well.  We must have been cute, though, 'cause the guards let us off with just lighthearted warnings.

There were readily accessible pictures, like one of a hot dog and another of those ubiquitous black-and-white composition books we all had in school.  Part of the philosophy of Pop Art, of course, is to represent and transform everyday objects, as well as to elevate the graphic arts that we simply take for granted because they surround us in commercial venues and on marketable products.

But then there were more serious pieces, like my new favorite picture, "Ohhh ... Alright ...".  Which of us hasn't uttered those two words with deflation ... with resignation ... with frustration ... with sadness ... with exasperation ... with disappointment?  I took this fellow redhead into my heart, and Leanne and I called her "our girl" - someone we both could so easily relate to, a friend we wanted to console - for the rest of the afternoon.  It is a hallmark of the power of the artist that his image - distilled and deconstructed - could elicit such a response despite its seeming simplicity and deceptively cartoonish style.

We then toured the gift shop seeking presents and souvenirs, mementos of our afternoon immersed in art and in heartfelt conversation about dreams, loves both current and lost, dancing, hopes, fears, and family.  A magnet for my refrigerator - which I now look at each day, prompting memories and a smile - a postcard to frame.  And then there was not only a room devoted to books, but two of those books were calling my name loudly: Midwest Sweet Baking History: Delectable Classics Around Lake Michigan and Food Lovers' Guide to Chicago: Best Local Specialties, Markets, Recipes, Restaurants & Events ... sigh.  Temptation as I read, longing to cook and bake and eat!

Leanne's husband, Phil, had very sweetly made a dinner reservation for us all at the Park Grill, right near the Art Institute; he was going to bring their daughters, Katie and Ella, into the city for the afternoon and then we'd all meet up for our evening meal.  I'd hoped to be able to meet those dearest to Leanne, but I was only going to be in town until Sunday at noon; so this was a perfect plan!

Phil is a sweetheart, happily wound 'round the pinky fingers of all three of his "girls;" some men are just born to be the daddys of daughters, and Phil is absolutely one of those true gems.  Katie and Ella are gorgeous and sweet, polite and kind.  But still, even though you have faith that they'll behave beautifully in such a grown-up setting, be sweet to each other rather than bickering as siblings can often do (particularly after a long day in the heat), and be gracious hostesses to an out-of-town visitor, it was still so charming and wonderful to see them actually be those fabulous girls.

Dinner ... oh, my word, dinner was extraordinary!  And not just because of the very fine company, but also because it was sublime and succulent.

I am the least decisive person on Earth when it comes to food, as Leanne can now attest to herself having seen me in (in)action!  For starters - a salad? calamari? soup?  As an entree - Alaskan salmon? A Kobe beef burger?  And sides - sides!  Oh, too many choices!  It would be so easy if I were a picky eater and might only like one very simple, benign item.  But everything sounded wonderful!  Too much temptation!

Because I have that combined Catholic-Jewish guilt complex - a powerful entity if ever there were one - I finally forced myself to pick the melon salad and avoid making the waiter come back yet again.  This selection was light and bright and crunchy and sweet and salty ... every taste and texture working in perfect unison in each bite.  There were three types of melon, lightly toasted pine nuts, crumbled feta cheese, and a creamy cilantro dressing that added a lovely zest in contrast to the delicate fruit.

Leanne and Phil both ordered the roasted beet salad with goat cheese and pistachios, which Leanne generously let me taste in all its tender, sweet, gorgeous glory.  Leanne also let me try a bit of her creamy risotto, which featured springtime vegetables and was perfectly cooked; it had just the tiniest hint of an "al dente" firmness in the center of each grain of rice, a testament to great skill and patience in the kitchen.

Then I chose the bone-in pork chop, which the waiter had recommended with great praise.  It was tender and juicy and utter perfection, enhanced by fingerling potatoes and by a kale-bacon-mustard saute that offered both color and an ideal complement to the chop - a variation on the theme of "pork" that seconded the motion rather than competing with it.  (And I want to thank Leanne and Phil again for their very sweet gesture of taking me out to dinner, including me in their family and not letting me contribute anything to this cause.)

We didn't order dessert at the restaurant, as we were on a mission afterwards: Intelligentsia, an immersion in all that is perfect in a cup of coffee.

They take their coffee very seriously at Intelligentsia, offering classes and instruction, French presses, pour overs, finely-honed equipment, extraordinarily well-selected beans ... everything you could need for a perfect cup of coffee whether it's enjoyed at the shop, taken to go, or brewed at home.

Ella ordered an apple juice, though she tasted others' drinks; Katie was in her glory sampling decaf and a vanilla latte.  I chose a simple decaf, as I am a chronic insomniac and hardly needed anything more stimulating - or, rather, more stimulating than the excitement of visiting happily with friends! - to further impede my already limited ability to sleep.

But alas, young girls need to find their way home after an adventure in the city.  And old ones, like me, needed to get back to real life.  My new family - truly, they all made me feel so loved and welcomed and included! - walked me to my hotel, where there were hugs and kisses, smiles and teary eyes, lots of love and many promises to visit Ann Arbor and to come back again to Chicago.  It's my kind of town, after all!  With people who welcome you to their city, and also into their hearts ....

Frugal Floozie Friday - Cafe Ambrosia

On one of our recent wretchedly hot days, I stopped by Cafe Ambrosia for an iced tea to take with me as I continued on my afternoon of appointments and errands.  Just as I was walking up to the door, a very nice gentleman passed by and told me, "They make great coffee there."  He smiled as he walked away.  Unfortunately, the temperature was hovering 'round 100 and I don't like iced coffee, so I'll have to take this suggestion some time when it's merely summery rather than sweltering.  But it was sweet of him to make the recommendation.

Once I found myself in the blissfully cool shop, I found that not only was the iced tea properly brewed (rather than the instant "tea" that is often served in restaurants), but I was also able to stay within my mandatory $5 budget and buy an utterly decadent chocolate-almond croissant to go with my drink. Sugar and chocolate are good, even when it's hot out. Thus, Cafe Ambrosia meets all the criteria to be today's Frugal Floozie Friday feature!

When I do go back for that cup of great coffee, I'll happily be able to splurge on another treat to go with it  and still not have to spend a fortune; coffees - from a basic house cup to specialty drinks - range in price from $1.25 to $4.50.  Chai and cocoa are also available within the same price range.

Baked goods are provided by the Pastry Peddler Bakery and are lovingly made by Kathryn Loy, a graduate of the French Pastry School in Chicago. My flaky, crumbly, perfect croissant - authentically made in the French manner with sticks of chocolate rather than chips - cost a mere $3.25, an extraordinary price for such an exceptional item.  Palmiers and oatmeal raisin cookies cost only a $1 each; and other sweet treats - from pecan sticky buns to almond croissants - are less than $4.

So whether you're looking for a hot drink or a cold one, be sure to stop by Cafe Ambrosia to find what you need.  And don't pass up the pastries ... they are utterly sublime!

Cafe Ambrosia
326 Maynard
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Monday - Thursday: 7:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.



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Frugal Floozie Friday - The Songbird Cafe

The Songbird Cafe is the newest addition to the dining options on the northeast side of town, and so it's today's Frugal Floozie Friday feature in order to let everyone know that it's open for business and ready to welcome you.

Ann Arbor native Jenny Song and her mother, Youn, have opened this spot that is great whether you want to grab a quick coffee and cake to go or linger for awhile over a latte and lunch.  (A greater variety of food options will be available imminently.  But there are so many other treats that it's absolutely worth an initial visit before going back again once the salad bar, sandwiches, and weekend brunch come along.)

The Hummingbird Cake pictured above - a Southern classic, and a very generous portion for $4 - is a rich, moist banana-walnut cake with a luscious, buttery, cream cheese frosting.  This and other baked goods, such as scones and cookies, are provided by the People's Food Co-Op, letting you support two local businesses at once when you cater to your sweet tooth.

I had heard the Samoa latte calling to me ever since the Cafe had posted about its "caramel, coconut, cocoa goodness" on Facebook a few days before my first visit.  (And let me personally thank Taylor, one of the Songbird's "talented baristas," for creating this treat.)  It was the liquid essence of my second-favorite Girl Scout cookie since, as we all know, Thin Mints reign supreme.  This was creamy and definitely showcased the key flavors - a luxurious indulgence at $4.35.

All of the pastries, teas, coffees, juices, sodas, and specialty drinks fall within our mandatory frugal budget of $5 or less per person, ranging in price from $1.50 to $4.60.  There are unique and intriguing lattes, from the seductive Nutella-flavored one to the Cardamom Rose and the Fig Vanilla Black Pepper varieties.  There is also a Tangerine Lavender Hot Cocoa ... something to look forward to when cold weather returns to Michigan (and sadly, we all know it will).

Another really nice feature of The Songbird Cafe - besides the friendliness of Jenny and the staff, the delicious goodies, and the free wi-fi, among other perks - is the half-off sale on leftover baked goods.  Stop by to pick up some scones or cookies for a midnight snack or for the next morning's breakfast!

Visit The Songbird Cafe and say "hi." With lots of light, it's very cheerful; with wood furniture, it offers warmth.  And with great food and drink offerings, served by smiling staff, it'd be a lovely place to become a regular.

The Songbird Cafe
2707 Plymouth Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-761-1555
Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.



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Frugal Floozie Friday - My Favorite Cafe

I was in Saline recently with Jeremy, on a day that involved a lot of schlepping here, there and everywhere.  By late afternoon, we were in need of refreshment and sustenance.  And so we stopped by today's Frugal Floozie Friday feature: My Favorite Cafe, on a side street in the quaint downtown area.

I just needed an iced tea, which was bright and cold and wonderful.  Jeremy wanted a little something to eat, and it was difficult to resist the inexpensive Sandwich Special posted on the chalkboard.  The Turkey Club was generously portioned, and served with both potato chips and a pickle.  It would be a great deal to split, followed perhaps by a $2 single scoop of Michigan's own Guernsey Farms Dairy ice cream, but it was also a great lunch that didn't even exceed our frugal monetary limit when serving only one hungry person.

There are so many treats at the cafe that meet our mandatory budget of $5 or less per person!  Beautiful, tempting baked goods range in price from $3-3.75, and you can choose from chocolate or carrot cakes, lemon bars, tiramisu, cheesecake, and more.  Quiche is available for $3.95 per slice, and an espresso sundae costs the same amount.  Breakfast bagels are available anytime for $3 or less, and there is a wide variety of sandwiches to choose from beyond what's offered on the $5 menu; there are even kid-friendly grilled cheese and pb&j sandwiches for $3.50.  Many coffee and tea drinks are available, as well as milkshakes; all of these cost less than $5, and many are even under $3.

So whether you come in for breakfast, for your caffeine fix, for a light lunch, for "coffice"-ing, to hang out with friends, or to satisfy your sweet tooth, My Favorite Cafe - which is bright, welcoming, and friendly - will definitely become one of your favorite places!

My Favorite Cafe
107 South Ann Arbor St.
Saline, MI 48176
734-944-4054


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Frugal Floozie Friday - Morgan and York

My friend Deborah and I recently met for coffee and treats on a Friday afternoon at the wonderful Morgan & York specialty market.  It's not a restaurant; but it does offer some seating and a warm welcome for loitering, so it is today's Frugal Floozie Friday feature.

This fabulous shop sells a wide array of items: exceptional wines, sublime cheeses, an astounding variety of sausages, beautiful crusty breads, locally produced sausages and dairy products, lovely condiments, old-fashioned candies, handmade chocolates, and much more.  And - even better - you'll find knowledgeable, friendly service and the opportunity to taste, and learn about, virtually anything that's for sale.  I didn't leave until I'd purchased some paper-thin slices of the mustardseed salami with just a hint of the namesake flavor peeking through; a spicy caliente salami somewhat reminiscent of pepperoni; and a true treasure, the Dutch Boerenkaas cheese that had been described as crystalline with hints of butterscotch ... a perfectly seductive, and accurate, summary.

While I was waiting for Deborah, having remarkably arrived first (a rare occurrence for someone who runs a standard 10 minutes late), I was offered a cup of coffee to enjoy while perusing all the wonderful goodies.  As I meandered around, I could only think of what I wanted to taste, what I would cook with this or that product, what would make a lovely gift, etc.

Once Deborah arrived, we had to choose what sort of treat we wanted - cookies? bagels? candies?  We settled on pastries, and agreed wholeheartedly that each wanted her own rather than splitting anything.  I told a story of an ex-boyfriend who actually once wanted to share a 25-cent frosting shot, rather than ingest too much fat or sugar ... pffft!  We both chuckled and shook our heads as we anticipated the glee of our individual calorie and cholesterol fests.

And so, we ordered the chocolate almond croissants provided by Cafe Japon, a charming tea shop offering French and Japanese cuisine.  You wouldn't guess to look at its exterior that this baked good is a croissant, and I'm not sure that I would call it that.  But as they say, a rose by any other name ....  If you gaze lovingly at the luscious, creamy, chocolaty, crisp, flaky pastry pictured above - the croissant broken apart for ease of eating - you can imagine how wonderful it was!  And it was only $4, well within our mandatory expenditure of $5 or less per person.

Morgan & York sells a number of treats that meet the limits of our Frugal Floozie Friday budget, from coffee drinks to cookies, selections from the deli counter, chocolates, and other wonderful items.  Stop by, and you'll find yourself unable to resist the delicious offerings!


Morgan & York
1928 Packard
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-662-0798
Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday: 12 - 6 p.m.



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Espresso Pudding Parfait

Rather than sponge cake made with matzah meal or plain ol' fruit or sesame seed candies, why not try a pudding for a special dessert during Passover?  Why not make something a bit luxurious, rather than feeling as though food is becoming a punishment with no access to breads, cupcakes, oatmeal, or other items - both decadent and mundane - that will suddenly seem miraculous on Saturday evening when they're permissible again after the holiday?

This rich, luscious dessert uses ricotta cheese, though I know that it can be difficult to find this particular ingredient with a hekhsher [HEK-sher], certifying that it's kosher for Passover.  Pureed cottage cheese would work just fine, if that's easier to acquire.  Or make this after the holiday ends, when you're still trying to use up leftover tins of macaroons.

The pudding isn't terribly sweet, so that it offers a nice contrast to the sugary cookies.  Layers of texture and layers of flavor ... this coffee-almond parfait is simple but beautiful.

Espresso Pudding and Macaroon Parfait

2 15-ounce containers part-skim ricotta cheese
4 tablespoons sugar
6 tablespoons prepared espresso, chilled

12 Manischewitz almond macaroons, crumbled

whipped cream, for serving

In a large bowl, whisk the ricotta to break it up a bit.  Whisk in the sugar and the espresso until smooth.

Fill 4 wine glasses one-third full with the ricotta mixture.  Divide half of the crumbled macaroons among the glasses.  Divide the remaining ricotta mixture among the glasses, then top with the remaining macaroon crumbs.  Top with whipped cream, if desired.

Makes 4 generous servings or 8 smaller ones.

Banana Nutella Cake with Coffee Glaze

At work the other day, a vision came into my head. Not one of those religious visions I was taught about in Catholic school! Rather, it was a vision of food ... specifically of cake.

A banana cake.

A cake made with Nutella.

A cake with a coffee glaze.

I wasn't quite sure how these pieces would fit together, but it was clear that this vision had to be realized. And so, over the weekend I baked.

I took a basic cake recipe which is very adaptable. I took a perfectly ripe banana, and I bought a jar of Nutella because ... ahem ... the last jar I had seems to have disappeared. I didn't bake with it, I didn't use it as a frosting. I'd be ashamed to admit that I simply finished it off ages ago with a spoon, but I know I'm not the only one who indulges that way!

But I digress ....

I didn't need to do a lot of research through various recipes, trying to configure how my cake would be created. Instinctively, I just knew that the basic batter need to be mixed with the key ingredients, swirled, topped with a crunchy streusel, and then given the final crowning glory of a glaze.

So, that's what I did.

And the end result was so moist, so seductively delicious! Each flavor shone, and yet each also complemented the others.

Sometimes inspiration strikes, and things are just meant to be ....

Banana Nutella Cake with Coffee Glaze

Cake:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup unbleached flour
2 generous tablespoons Nutella
1 medium banana, mashed

Streusel:
1/4 cup unbleached flour
1/8 cup sugar
1/8 cup oatmeal
1/8 cup ground almonds
1/8 cup butter, softened

Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons prepared coffee, cooled to room temperature

Cake: Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8"x8" glass baking pan.

In a large bowl, combine butter, sour cream, egg, sugar, baking powder and baking soda; stir in the flour.

Remove 1 cup of the batter and place it into a medium mixing bowl; stir the Nutella into the remaining batter in the large bowl. Stir the mashed banana into the batter in the medium bowl.

Spread the Nutella batter into the prepared baking pan.


Carefully spread the banana batter over this, then use a knife to swirl the batters together.



Streusel: Combine the flour, sugar, oatmeal and almonds in a small mixing bowl. Use a fork to mix in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle the streusel over the top of the cake.


Bake the cake for 35-40 minutes until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely.

Glaze: Combine the coffee and the confectioners' sugar, stirring until smooth. Drizzle over the cake, then let the glaze set. Cut and serve.

Makes 8-12 servings.

Moonwinks Cafe

Moonwinks Cafe is a charming coffee shop that I have been visiting on a semi-regular basis for several years now. Because of appointments in the area recently, I've become rather a regular in the past few weeks; and so it only seemed fitting to tell about this wonderful place.

I had thought that it was a bit of a secret, out on the north end of town, but apparently I was quite mistaken: I was thrilled when Moonwinks placed 3rd in AnnArbor.com's recent poll to find the best coffeehouse in Ann Arbor. Another contender disparaged this lovely place as merely "a sandwich shop," which is unfair because Moonwinks is so much more than that! You can go to Subway or Quizno's or Jimmy John's, after all, if you only want a sandwich. I go to Moonwinks for coffee and treats, a warm welcome, and a place to linger with loved ones.

It's not a franchise, and it's not a bustling take-out kind of place. It's not the sort of coffee shop where you rush in to grab something to go ... you could do that, certainly, but then you'd be missing the point.

Instead, Moonwinks is the sort of place to sit and read your paper or play a board game (many of which are provided on shelves). It's the sort of place that's actually conducive to the old-fashioned art of conversation. One afternoon, I even witnessed a knitting group happily enjoying time with warm drinks, a cherished hobby, and good friends ... they were so happy! You could bring a laptop with you and do the "coffice" (coffee + office) thing there, but it would almost seem out of place.

I haven't eaten much at Moonwinks, admittedly, although a lovely assortment of breakfast treats, quiches, salads and, yes, sandwiches is offered. It seems I'm usually there fairly soon after having eaten breakfast or in the late afternoon before I go home to prepare dinner. So I can attest to the lightness and sweetness of the very generously sized blueberry muffin I once had, but can only tell you -- rather than describing in luscious detail --that everything else looks incredibly tempting. I definitely need to work on my timing in order to eat more of the offerings there!

Instead, I usually order coffee (proudly roasted by Ann Arbor's own Zingerman's), and must absolutely rave about the Sweet Almond Mocha confection pictured above! I had gone up to the counter with notions of chai running through my head; but when I saw the featured drinks, I immediately swooned over this sweet, chocolatey, whipped-cream laden feast -- it was truly like drinking a dessert!

Moonwinks also offers Ashby's Sterling ice cream, a "Family-Owned, Michigan Brand, Gourmet, Award-Winning Ice Cream" ... that is pretty hard to beat. Now that there's a hint of spring returning, shakes and sundaes are sounding good!

The story behind the cafe's name is very sweet, involving the owner's parents and how they met at the Moonwinks Restaurant and Bar in New York state many years ago, in 1941. As the website says, "The name, Moonwinks, has always signified a very special location for the beginning of a lasting and loving relationship."

It represents not only the lasting and loving relationship of the owner's parents, but also the relationship you'll develop with the cafe yourself ... :)


Disclosure: I happen to know the owner of Moonwinks, and think it's only fair to let everyone in on that little tidbit. However, I fell in love with this utterly charming cafe long before finding out that I knew her. So my opinion is truly sincere, and I only have more affection for Moonwinks after finding out that such a lovely woman happens to be responsible for the warmth and hospitality ... :)

Cafe au Lait Blondies

Tom and I are both coffee addicts. Jeremy even gave me a brand spankin' new coffee press for my birthday last week, knowing full well how much I love my morning fix. So, in the midst of trying to catch up on my Christmas baking, how could I resist making coffee-flavored Cafe au Lait Blondies???

I have so many clippings and scraps of recipes, I can't begin to tell you where many of them came from. But the one with the blondie recipe is clearly from the departed Ann Arbor News, which evolved sorta into AnnArbor.com for which I write once-a-week. The printed recipe was adapted from The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion.

The house smells like a coffee shop and bakery as these bake, which is always a fabulous fragrance to immerse yourself in! And what better treat to serve with a nice hot cup of coffee than more coffee???

Cafe au Lait Blondies

3 eggs
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup butter, melted
2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup instant coffee crystals
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 325F. Grease a 9"x13" baking pan.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs and the sugar until thickened. Add the vanilla extract and the butter. Stir in the flour and salt.


Remove 1-1/2 cups of the batter and set aside.

Combine the instant coffee and the cream; stir into the batter that's in the large mixing bowl, then spread the batter into the prepared baking pan.


Stir the walnuts into the batter that you'd reserved, then place dollops of it over the top of the coffee-flavored batter.


Swirl the batters together and smooth the top.


Bake for 30 minutes until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely, then cut into small cookies or larger-sized dessert bars.