Day 7 - Twelve Days of Christmas Celebration & Giveaway

It's a Winter Wonderland outside!

Yesterday and last night we had a great snowstorm....the wind blew and the snow came down heavy.  The snow clung to the windows and made for a very pretty picture indeed.

It was cozy and warm inside, and a great day to catch up on some UFOs, decorating and baking.

Each Christmas morning, I make a treat to feast on while we enjoy our coffee and open presents.  It may be my caramel nut rolls, or it may be my Nana's coffee cake.  My Nana died when I was 13, but I have such fond memories of her.  She was a real lady...tall, lovely and as kind as can be.  She always dressed well, as befitted a lady of her time.  If you recall seeing pictures of Lucille Ball all dressed up and looking glamorous (not goofy)...that was my Nana.  She came from an era where people took pride in their appearance when they stepped out the door.  I think of my Nana often...sometimes I even feel her presence when I make her coffee cake, her pot roast, or see a jar of M & M's, which she always had when we came to visit...I wish she had lived long enough to see my sister, brothers and I grow up...she would have loved the boys and now our grandchildren.  But, time marches on and I know in my heart, Nana and PopPop (who died when I was just 2) will be waiting with open arms to greet me when the time comes.  

So in honor of my Nana, I am sharing her simple, yet yummy recipe.

Nana's Coffee Cake

A family favorite in our home - now you can make it too.

For the cake:

 

Sift together

2 1/2 c flour, 1/2 t. salt and 2 1/2 t. baking powder

In separate bowl, mix

1/2 c shortening

1 c sugar

2 t. vanilla extract

Cream well, then add

2 eggs and mix just until blended - do not overbeat

Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture, alternating with

1 c milk

Beat just until blended and spread into a 13 x 9 pan

 

For the crumb topping:

In food processor, combine 1 c sugar, 1 c flour, one stick butter and 1 - 2 T cinnamon.  Blend until combine and butter is in small pieces.  Top batter with crumb mixture and place in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.  Cool completely before serving.

 

I'm not sure why, but we have traditionally baked this coffee cake in two round cake pans.  Occasionally we will use a 9x13 pan, but it never quite seems the same unless it is sliced like a cake...lol.  Oh and...my brother Jon and I used to always fought over who got to scrape the crumbs from the bottom of the pan with a spoon and eat them.

I'm sure this recipe could be fancied up with the addition of some chopped nuts in the topping and perhaps fruit and more crumb topping in the middle of the cake, but the simplicity of the recipe and the Lady who inspired it are what make it so special to us.

I hope you enjoy it too.

 

 

Today's giveaway question is:

"Do you have a special family recipe you make at Christmastime that invokes wonderful memories?"

Thank you all for stopping by again today and sharing your wonderful comments with me - I read each one and enjoy hearing about your family traditions!

I have listed a couple of new items on Ebay, if you care to take a look. You will find a link on the top left of my blog.