The end of My Summer Blueberries.Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Love Sunday Brunch, Don't you?
It allows me to take a moment and linger a little longer over my first cup of Pumpkin Spice coffee of the season and say goodbye to the Summer's Bounty. I used the last of my Summer Blueberries in a Wonderful Sour Cream Coffee Cake this morning! hmmmm the weather hasn't shown it yet, but Fall is in the air! Yaaaaaaaaaaayyyy!!! 

Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake

1 greased and floured 10" Bundt pan
 (or a 12 count muffin tin)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened (plus 2 tablespoons for buttering the pan)
1/4 cup light brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/4 cups fresh blueberries (if possible, or frozen), 3 quarters of a cup for each layer
3 cups unbleached white flour, plus 1 tablespoon to toss with fresh blueberries
1 1/2 cups sugar 
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs
2 cups sour cream 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° f 
Set oven rack on middle rack (or put Bundt pan on cookie sheet in oven)
Butter and flour Bundt pan. (or put cupcake liners in muffin tins)
In a small bowl combine quarter cup sugar, light brown sugar and cinnamon.
In a separate medium bowl toss fresh blueberries in a tablespoon of flour.
In a large bowl sift all remaining dry ingredients. 
In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla. 
Then add eggs, one at a time, combine until incorporated. Scraping down sides periodically.
Add flour mixture, alternating with sour cream, mixing until just incorporated. Scrape down sides in between additions. 
Spread 1/2 of the batter carefully on bottom of bundt pan, then add the blueberries and sprinkle with 1/2 of the cinnamon sugar mixture.Pour remaining batter on top. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture over top. 

Bake for 1 hour until cake is golden brown and set, and sides begin to pull away from the pan.
                  (*Baking time is 35-40 mins for muffins.) 
Let cool 10 minutes, then turn cake out onto rack and turn right side up and cool completely.

Serves ten to twelve. (at least) (yields 12 muffins) - 

Savor the small things: Blueberry Baked French Toast

 "Savor the Small Things"  & "Do something for someone else" are awesome way to start a new day.

I decided to make breakfast for my Hunny.
I'm a Foodie.
I am a Cooker.
I am a Kitchen Person.

C'mon the name of my blog is "Food is Love" for goodness sakes.
Was there really ever a doubt of what my primary way of showing appreciation would be? I didn't think so :)

I recognized that He makes me whatever I ask for, at breakfast, Everyday!
So I decided to turn the table on his day off and give him a special treat!

Blueberry Baked French Toast

Ingredients
2 Eggs
1/2 cup Milk or Half & Half
2 Slices of Hawaiian Bread
3/4 cup fresh Blueberries
2 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp Splenda

Directions:

Preheat oven 375°

In a microwave safe bowl place the butter, Splenda and blueberries

Heat on high for 1 minute.

Pour mixture into baking dish (*I used a shallow, fluted baking dish, as seen above)

In a mixing bowl beat the eggs and the milk.

Dip the slices of Hawaiian bread in the egg mixture.

Place the bread on top of the blueberry mixture.

Pour remaining egg mixture over top of the bread.

Bake in 375° oven for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

Serve with a Dollop of Whipped Cream if desired.

**If you'd like to do this the night before just do everything but bake. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. It really works out well!

Enjoy, We sure did!!

New Years Morning After Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Happy New Year!!! Oh, did I say that too loud???

A Joyous New Years Eve Celebration can often result in a horrible hangover.

As defined by "Wikipedia" :

"A hangover describes the sum of unpleasant physiological effects following heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages. The most commonly reported characteristics of a hangover include headache, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, lethargy, dysphoria, diarrhea and thirst, typically after the intoxicating effects of the alcohol begin to wear off. "

A hangover can be a painful reminder of a well celebrated evening. While the exact causes of a hangover have not been determined, dehydraytion and the inflammatory effects caused by the breakdown of alcohol are the likely reasons for your symptoms.

Little scientific evidence can back up many of the proposed "hangover cures."  However, experts do agree that rehydration is an essential step in managing the symptoms of hangover.
The idea of drinking lots of water during and after consumption of alcohol can be of benefit.
The consumption of electrolyte-containing beverages such as some sports drinks would also be of benefit.
My choice would be a sports drink such as a (Vitamin Water) that contains B vitamins as this can lessen the mental fuzziness and sensitivity to light and sound.
Placing a bottle of water or sports drink at the bedside along with 2 (advil) or ibuprofen before going out would be a "nip" at the bud of a hangover. Ibuprofen is the chosen pain reviever in this case as (tylenol) or Aceteminophen's effects can compound damage to the liver in addition to overindulgence in alcohal.

The Next Morning:
As you rise slowly to the light of day @ noonish. Your mouth dry and stomach queezy, give yourself a break. Rise slowly and sit at the side of the bed. Slowly drink the rest of your pre-hangover hydrator.
As you make your way to the shower induldge yourself. Add some "bath salts" to the bottom of the shower. (this can be done before you go out the night before, also. So all you have to do is step in the shower and turn the hot water on...)The fragrance of mint or citrus will aid in the "waking" process.
Slowly but surely you will  feel yourself moving toward "clarity".

Now to address that "yuck" stomach.

The following ideas can lighten the discomfort and ease you into the New Year quietly with a soft knowing smile.
                                         

Something Hot to drink:

Morning After Tea:

Coffee itself has not been proven to have an effect on hangover symptoms, but the caffeine in coffee can increase the effectiveness of pain medicines, such as ibuprofen. But, because caffeine can further dehydrate the body, most experts don't recommend drinking coffee while nursing a hangover. Green Tea can magically help with the queaziness and also assists the liver to rid itself of the toxins from the alcohal.


Something substantial to eat:

There are many different ideas in this area. The mexican culture have a soup (menudo) that is said to cure the most horrendous of hangovers. While I cannot confirm or deny it's effectivity, personally, the idea of eating a soup containing cow intestine (tripe) isn't the most soothing of ideas. Many websites tout the "Egg McMuffin" as the end all, be all of Hangover cures. From my experience, the most tried and true has been a substantial carb laden breakfast. The idea is that the "bread-like" consistency will "soak" up the alcohal. My idea is a "coffee cake" made the day before and ready to eat upon rising, serves 2 purposes.
It's ready. Just make the tea and cut a slice. No pans, No standing, no smells of cooking food and it fulfills the "soaking up" requirement.

Here's a great recipe:

___________________________________________Recipe