Hellooooooo! Anybody there?
Iโm alive! Iโm still Karen! Itโs so nice having my personality back. Seriously, I turn into the most boring person ever when I donโt have food to obsess over. 3 months of milk and string cheese later, Iโm finally getting to the point where I can not only ponder food without gagging, I can even eat it, and yesterday I made bacon and eggs for breakfast. Life is good.
People are so awesome, can I say that? Eric has endured 3 months of sloth-like behavior, my friends bring food over so that Eric and Charlotte have something to eat besides tortillas, and no one has even judged me for letting Charlotte watch Dora the Explorer 24 hours a day. Understanding. Thatโs what you need when you are sick.
I remember one time when I was little, my parents told us kids that Grandma had come down with a stomach flu. We decided to make get-well cards for her. I was determined that mine would be a piece of everlasting art. I spent what seemed like hours drawing and coloring every minute detail I could remember of my grandmaโs bathroom. The potpourri on the back of the toilet, the blue rug, the bottles of lotion on display. And Grandma herself of course: her gray curly hair, her glasses, her necklace. I was very proud of my accurate rendition.
My sister Laura, however, took one look at my masterpiece and gently told me that Grandma might not like to see a drawing of herself violently throwing up into the toilet. Apparently she thought that it was a little too graphic for an old lady with a stomach bug.
I ended up making a different card for Grandma, but looking back, I have to say I disagree with Laura. If an adoring 5-year-old gave me a picture like that I think I would die laughing.
In other exciting news, my one year anniversary came and went! It was a few weeks ago. Hard to believe Iโve been blogging a whole year! Hereโs a coffee cake to celebrate. My aunt Shirley (a true baker) made up the recipe. She used to make this cake for family brunches. It is sooooo good. Everything a coffee cake should be: buttery and cinnamony and completely inappropriate for breakfast. Yes!
Cake Mix Coffee Cake
Source: my awesome aunt Shirley
1 box yellow or white cake mix (I prefer yellow)
1 cup Bisquick*
3 eggs
1 cup softened butter
2 cups water
Beat the above ingredients for a couple minutes. Pour half of the batter into a greased 9ร13 pan. In another bowl, combine until crumbly:
1 cup Bisquick
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
Sprinkle half of the brown sugar mixture on the cake batter in the pan. Cover with the remaining cake batter, and finally top with the remaining brown sugar mixture. Bake at 350ห for about 30 minutes, or until it doesnโt jiggle when you move the pan.
Icing:
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup soft butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
about 1/4 cup milk (more or lessโyou want spreading/slow pour consistency)
Drizzle the icing over the cake. I like it best warm with a giant glass of milk. Enjoy!
*If you donโt have Bisquick, combine 2 cups flour with 1 teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoons baking powder. Cut in 1/4 cup of shortening with a pastry cutter until it looks like Bisquick. This will make a little more than that 2 cups you need for the recipe, so be sure to measure it.
Iโve missed you! So glad youโre feeling better. If I had any artistic skills I would draw a picture of you passed out on the couch in a fetal position while Charlotte watches Dora on the t.v. Iโm at the point when I almost remember those days fondly. Almost.
Iโm glad youโre back too, Karen, but I will NEVER remember those days fondly. EVER. There are no fond memories of early pregnancy. In fact, now that I think about it, there are NO fond memories of pregnancy, period! Yucko!
Iโm so sad grandma didnโt get to witness the art. Thatโs hilarious. Leave it to Laura to train you on appropriate behavior. I was probably eating my spaghetti with a spoon while you drew.
Thatโs so funny, I donโt remember that story at all! Did I really say it gently? Iโm sure it was more in bossy older sister tones, but Iโll take gently. I wish you still had your drawing of grandma spewingโฆ
PS, I love how we can probably both still picture that bathroom, since everything was the same for our entire lifetimes. I still remember the wind up bath toys she had โ do you?
So good to read your blogpost! Iโve missed you so much! Your posts keep Joy and I laughing and start the day out right at work. Welcome back Karen!
That recipe looks a lot like one my grandmother used to make with Bisquick, butter and lots of cinnamon and nuts. Yum
youโre back, youโre back, iโve missed you! i love this coffee cake โ for as many times as iโve eaten it, how have i never had the recipe? thanks!