Kanakuk Coffee Cake

Hubby and I met working at Kanakuk, a Christian sports kamp in Branson, MO.  We LOVE it there! (and yes they replace all "c's" with "K's" because Kanakuk starts with a K.)  Every Sunday they serve coffee cake (or maybe it's Koffee Kake) for breakfast.  And let me tell you, it's delicious!  Ask anyone who has ever been a kamper before, and they will tell you that Sunday morning coffee cake is the best!

I have had this recipe for years, I think I found it on their website a million years ago.  But I forgot about it and rarely make it.  I had my last Wednesday morning Bible study with my 7th grade girls last week and thought I'd bring this coffee cake as an end of the year treat.  Hubby was thrilled! Although he was a bit skeptical that I could make it "as good as kamp."  I assured him I could. 

The Ingredients: 
Cake:
2 eggs, beaten
2/3 cup melted margarine (I used butter)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup evaporated milk
3/4 cup water
1 3/4 cup sugar
3 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Topping:  (I made a little extra, you can never have too much topping)
1/2 pound brown sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1/4 cup flour
1/4 stick softened margarine (I used butter)

First I let my eggs sit out just a little while to warm up to room temperature. I've read that helps with "fluffiness" I have no clue if it did anything.

Beat the eggs.  Add melted margarine, vanilla, evaporated milk, and water.

Combine the dry ingredients.  Add to the liquid mixture and beat until batter is smooth.

Here's the topping, you mix it until it's crumbly.  I guess you could use a pastry blender or a mixer. I just used my hands.  But HERE'S THE TRICK... you mix the topping DAYS BEFORE you want to bake the cake.  That was the secret in the K-Kountry kitchen... they mixed topping on Wednesday or Thursday and left it on the shelf until Sunday morning.  I have no clue why it works, but trust me, it's an important step.

Next pour the batter into a greased 9x13 pan.  Sprinkle on the topping and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. (Mine had to bake closer to 40 minutes and was still VERY moist!)

We ate it all so fast I didn't get a picture of a slice of it! But let me tell you, it's delish!!  Oh, and yes, Hubby agreed that it tastes EXACTLY like kamps!  Success!

Sweet Potato Pie

Hubby's grandparents live in Gilmer, TX... home of the annual Yamboree.  Yes, that's right, an entire festival for yams or sweet potatoes.  We go most years.  It's awesome- in a very small town sort of way.

There is a sweet potato pie contest each year, and after the judging is over, the pie entries go on sale.  Grandma always buys one for us and now sweet potato pie has become a favorite in our home.

Hubby asked for one for Christmas Eve dinner and I was happy to oblige. I've made this one time before, but have no clue what recipe I used. So this year, I googled it, read about 100 recipes. Figured Paula Deen's would be the best.  They are all very similar anyways. 

I did not take pictures of the process, but it really is pretty easy.  Here is my finished product (it was delicious)  recipe below.

Paula Deen's Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie

2 cups peeled, cooked sweet potatoes (this was 1 large sweet potato)

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 stick melted butter

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 to 2 tablespoons bourbon (I used vanilla)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (I used 1/4 teaspoon allspice instead)

1 cup milk

9-inch unbaked pie crust (I used pilsbury pre-made)

3 egg whites (this is for meringue, which I did NOT make)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the filling, using an electric hand mixer, combine the potatoes, 1 cup of the sugar, the butter, eggs, vanilla, salt, and spices. Mix thoroughly. Add the milk and continue to mix. Pour the filling into the pie crust and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Place the pie on a rack and cool to room temperature before covering with meringue.

For the meringue, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form; beat in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue beating until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is glossy and stiff, but not dry. With a rubber spatula, spoon the meringue onto the pie, forming peaks. Make sure the meringue touches the crust all around. Sprinkle with a pinch of granulated sugar. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until delicately browned. Cool and serve.

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So there you have it... good ole fashioned sweet potato pie.  The consistency is exactly like pumpkin pie, but replace the pumpkin flavor with sweet potato flavor.  

Enjoy! 

Morning Cookies

I love this recipe!! Growing up, my best friend's mom would make these for breakfast when I'd sleep over!! I loved them!! Years later, I asked for the recipe. Turns out they aren't really cookies at all! they are very healthy!! My husband thinks they are terrible!! the name is deceptive, but it gets kids eating them :) I never knew they weren't really cookies until I made them myself.

Here's the ingredients...

You may notice thinks like all-bran, oats, nonfat dry milk, raisins, applesauce, whole wheat flour, etc. not your typical cookie line up. But trust me, try them just once, you'll like them and you'll feel good about eating them.

First, beat 1/4 cup butter with 1/2 cup packed brown sugar.

mix it up real nice.

Next, add EVERYTHING else (ingredients will be listed below in a real recipe format)

Mix it up real nice again.

Finally, add 1/2 cup raisins and 1/4 cup chopped walnuts.

Now, I ALWAYS add about 1/2 cup of chocolate chips as well. I figure, everything else in the cookie is healthy, why not add some chocolate and spice things up?

(PS I'm very messy when I bake, so I always lay out a couple of paper towels and do all of my measuring on top of them. When I spill - which I always do - it's no big deal. Clean up is so easy- just roll up the paper towels and toss!)

Next, spray a baking sheet with some Pam. (I've tried the Pam for baking before- and i do NOT like it, makes my food burn and my pans sticky. so I'm back on regular Pam)

Now, put a rounded tablespoon of dough on the baking sheet. I actually do use the tablespoon- it helps keep everything equal in size and makes baking times very consistent.

Now, you have to spread out the dough into about a 2 inch circle. You really have to do this. These cookies do NOT spread out while cooking at all. And if you don't smooth them down, they will be very tall and not baked all the way through. I know from experience. (In a Billy Madison voice)

Here's my 2 inch cookie before baking.

Here's my 2 inch cookies after baking. no change. literally.

Move them to a wire rack to cool.

The final step... you must make these cookies into cookie sandwiches. It is delicious! Spread one cookie with either peanut butter or cream cheese and then top with a second cookie. Delish!! i love both. I usually eat one of each. I don't want Peanut Butter to feel left out if I only eat Cream Cheese, I'm just being fair :)

Morning Cookies

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup applesauce

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/3 cup wheat bran ( I use all-bran cereal, couldn't find anything else)

1/4 cup nonfat dry milk

1 egg white

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 cup raisins

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

(1/2 cup chocolate chips)

peanut butter or cream cheese

In mixer bowl, beat butter and brown sugar well.

Add flour, applesauce, oats, bran, milk powder, egg white, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and cloves.

Beat on low until just combined.

Stir in raisins, nuts, and chocolate chips.

Spray baking sheet with Pam.

Drop rounded tablespoons of dough,, 2-3 inches apart on baking sheet.

Spread dough so each cookies 2 inches across.

Bake at 375 for 10 minutes or until set.

Cool on wire rack

Make sandwiches with cream cheese or peanut butter.

Chill or wrap and freeze.

If frozen, let thaw in fridge over night.

(makes about 8 sandwiches - sometimes more )