Blueberry Crumble Cake

Here is a recipe from the Barefoot Contessa for the most delicious blueberry crumble cake! I would post a picture of my own but my family devoured it before I could snatch one. Enjoy

For the streusel: 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
For the cake: 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature (3/4 stick) 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest 2/3 cup sour cream 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup fresh blueberries Confectioners' sugar for sprinkling
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-inch round baking pan.
For the streusel: Combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Stir in the melted butter and then the flour. Mix well and set aside.
For the cake: Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on high speed for 4 to 5 minutes, until light. Reduce the speed to low and add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla, lemon zest, and sour cream. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Fold in the blueberries and stir with a spatula to be sure the batter is completely mixed.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and spread it out with a knife. With your fingers, crumble the topping evenly over the batter. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool completely and serve sprinkled with confectioners' sugar.

Don't Peak Angela!

...your Valentine Swap goodies are on their way from Sunny California to Wintery Indiana! Enjoy the chocolate kisses, conversation hearts, chocolate souffle bath gel and lotion, a little vintage inspired photo frame, the heart shaped dish, vintage valentine and a little cone that I crafted.

Such a Fabulous Day!

...and it's not quite over yet. My day started out with a little pampering thanks to my girlfriends. I had received a gift certificate for the spa and decided to treat myself to a facial this morning - it was the best!! Then my friend Linda and I attended an amazing event The Vintage Vavoom Launch Party at the lovely McCharles House in Tustin. The house was truly amazing and it was a pleasure to meet the owners; Vivian & Audrey Heredia. The Editor of Romantic Homes, Jacqueline deMontravel was there to sign copies of our book and she is just adorable. Hillary Black, Editor of Cottages & Bungalows was one of the speakers and also provided entertainment with her group StuccoRainbow. Merrie Destefano, Editor of Victorian Homes also spoke and share a wonderful story about Joshua Stones. What a treat it was me to meet Lidy from the French Garden House! She is very sweet and so talented! I really wanted to win the gorgeous basket that she donated for the raffle! Fingers are crossed!

Christie Repasy was there and although she was not there; Penny Carlson of Lavender Hill Studio had a lovely raffle item as well - maybe I'll win this one! There were baskets of the magazines throughout the event - we were like kids in a candy store, nibbling on delicious raspberry tartelettes and scones and sipping on pomegranite sodas from IZZE. The weather was absolutely wonderful and everyone at the event was as sweet as the come! I'm off to make a chicken pot pie and sit in front of the fire tonight and enjoy my newest decorating inspiration; Vintage Vavoom!

What was I thinking?

I must think that I'm Superwoman! Well, I spent 3 hours working on my little space at Joann's Hometown Antiques Mall and I really paid the price! My little back is is aching - I could barely sit through the church service Saturday evening and today I laid low (which is really hard to do) with a heating pad on my back. I was busy moving these hutches around to re-position things a bit and make my space a little more open and inviting (I hope). Let me know what you think! The little gold table was from my friend Leanne - it sold while I was at the shop to a lovely lady named Teresa who was at the shop with her friend Sharon who will be moving into one of the spaces at the Mall. The little table is so unique - it spins inside and is great storage for all those trashy novels! The set of Limoges dishes are the sweetest; a luncheon set for 12; plates, cups and saucers, berr bowls and a sugar bowl. They are a steal! I hope you enjoy the virtual shopping trip!

IF YOU WERE A LITTLE GIRL IN THE 1970'S...

My sister sent this to me today and boy does this bring back memories! I had that same bike in pink, we roller skated in the drive way while Captain and Tenille played on the record player, not sure if I remember thinking Gopher was cute but Fantasy Island was a little creepy at times! Growing up in Wisconsin I had both the rain boots and moon boots OMG! We did not have a slip and slide, click clacks or a Simon...but I did have a pair of red cordouroy gouchos and I LOVED my Sunshine Family! Okay, so I'm a little tired of uploading photos for this but you get the idea...I remember getting a Holly Hobby sleeping bag for Christmas one year and I sooo wanted to be Laura Ingalls! We used those Bonnie Bell Lip Smackers like they were going out of style. Well girls it's the weekend and I hope these conjure up some memories for you too!

IF YOU WERE A LITTLE GIRL IN THE 1970'S......??

You had that Fisher Price Doctor's Kit with a stethoscope that actually worked.??

You owned a bicycle with a banana seat and a plastic basket with flowers on it.??You learned to skate with actual skates (not roller blades) that had metal wheels.?You thought Gopher from Love Boat was cute (admit it!)?You had nightmares after watching Fantasy Island?You had either a 'bowl cut' or 'pixie', not to mention the 'Dorothy Hamill'.?People sometimes thought you were a boy.?

You had rubber boots for rainy days and Moon boots for snowy days.?YEAH! You owned a 'Slip-n-Slide', on which you injured yourself on a sprinkler head more than once.?

You owned 'Klick-Klacks' and smacked yourself in the face more than once !??Your Holly Hobbie sleeping bag was your most prized possession.??You wore a poncho, gauchos, and knickers.?You begged Santa for the electronic game, Simon.??You had the Donny?and Marie dolls with those pink and purple satiny shredded outfits, or the sunshine family?You spent hours in your backyard on your metal swing set with the trapeze.?The swing set tipped over at least once.?

You had homemade ribbon barrettes in every imaginable color. (Oh yeah!)??

You had a pair of Doctor Scholl's sandals (the ones with hard sole & the buckle). You also had a pair of salt-water sandals.?

You wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder really bad; you wore that Little House on the?Prairie-inspired plaid, ruffle shirt with the high neck in at least one school picture;?and you despised Nellie Oleson!????

You wanted your first kiss to be at a roller rink!?

PONG! ('video tennis' ) was the most remarkable futuristic game you've ever heard of !?

Your hairstyle was described as having 'wings' or 'feathers' and you kept it 'pretty'?with the comb you kept in your back pocket.?When you walked, the 'wings' flapped up and down, looked like you were gonna 'take off'?

It was a big event in your household each year when the 'Wizard of Oz' would come on TV.?Your mom would break out the popcorn and sleeping bags!?

You often asked your Magic-8 ball the question: 'Who will I marry.?Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett, or David Cassidy?'?

You completely wore out your Grease, Saturday Night Fever, and Fame soundtrack record album.?

You tried to do lots of arts and crafts, like yarn and Popsicle-stick God's eyes, decoupage,?or those weird potholders made on a plastic loom.?You made Shrinky-Dinks and put iron-on kittens on your t-shirts!?

You used to tape record songs off the radio by holding your portable tape player up to the speaker.?

You had subscriptions to Dynamite and Tiger Beat.?

You learned everything you needed to know about girl issues from Judy Blume books.?(Are you there God, It's Me, Margaret.)?

You thought Olivia Newton John's song 'Physical' was about aerobics. (?? its not??)?

You wore friendship pins on your tennis shoes, or shoelaces with heart or?rain?bow?designs.?

You wanted to be a Solid Gold dancer.??

You drowned yourself in Love's Baby Soft - which was the first 'real' perfume you ever owned.??You glopped your lips in Strawberry Roll-on lip-gloss till it almost dripped off.?

Birthday Weekend & Lots of Laughs!

What a fun weekend! Saturday I enjoyed a trip to Paris to the Moon with my husband where he bought me the birthday crown - a friend told me that I looked like Glenda the Good Witch :) We stopped at Santa Monica Seafood and enjoyed Clam Chowder, Fish and Chips and a glass for wine before heading to the dog park with Jake. Last night after church we headed to http://lucillesbbq.com/ for a fun dinner with friends and lot's of laughs about a dessert called wemakeallot or we make a lot of our own desserts... this morning the girls and I went to see Atonement - it was a wonderful movie!! A++ and then we walked over to Pepino's and ate salads, deep fried zucchini and lina rolls - with Ranch dressing (how do you say Ranch and roll the R? Well our waiter had it down pretty good and just for our amusement and to have him say it one more time I asked him for a side of dressing for my salad to go! Thanks for an awesome birthday!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope that all your dreams and wishes come true in 2008. I'm making a few resolutions - but not too many - all the more to break. Off to Palm Desert for a few days of R&R.