Baking in the rain

Today it is dark and rainy, but a nice break from the 90 degrees we have been 'enjoying'? I've lost my mind at the store again and the frig is bulging right when the garden has decided to pop. Right now I have a pot of gazpacho burbling on the stove. We have several baskets of tomatoes and no one leaves this property without tomatoes. The pool man came this morning and though he does not care for tomatoes, he saw that wild look in my eyes and decided to take some after all.

I have fruit galore, blueberries, peaches and the poor strawberries did not make it.  They wait for no one...either use them or lose them. I am going to do a blueberry muffin or buckle while it is raining and the gazpacho is brewing. (Nate's mouth is already watering over this tomato delight while his father can't run fast enough to get away from a pepper or a tomato.)

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Blueberry Muffin Streusel Cake

 

Makes 12 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• Streusel Topping (recipe follows)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 375°F. Coat 9x9x2-inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray
2. In bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, sugar, milk and egg.
3. Stir in oil and blueberries, only until mixed.
4. Sprinkle 1/2 cup reserved Streusel Topping (see recipe) on bottom of pan. Carefully spread cake mixture on top. Cover with remaining reserved Streusel Pecan Topping.
5. Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out dry.

Streusel Topping

A perfect topping to any breakfast cake.
Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. In small bowl, mix together sugar, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon.
2. Cut in vanilla and butter using pastry blender or fork.
3. Reserve 1/2 cup topping and add pecans to remaining topping.