“People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of their character.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
How do you feel about soul searching posts? If your answer is, “It’s not my bag, baby,” then skip right on down to see this delicious recipe for Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake. It really is such a good thing, sweet and moist with a crunchy sugary center. It’s everything that’s right with the world. If I lose you at this sentence, then enjoy and do try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Now on to the soul searching. The above quote is one that I’ve known for a very long time and use to use it as a way of thinking of myself as not such a bad person, but now it pokes it long scholarly finger at me and says, “Look who you’ve become.”
I have been changed for the worse over this past year. I use to be gentle with people, especially their opinions and views even if they were very different than mine. My thought would always be, “We’re all just trying to figure it all out the best way we know how.” But lately, I feel harsh and mean. I can tell that my tolerance has gone to zero. I remind myself of the old men I use to see in the gym walking on tread mills while yelling at Fox News. Dude, I would think, your undoing all the good you’re trying to do. Here I am now officially a grumpy old man. Well, except I’m not a man.
I won’t go into all that has changed me; I don’t want to justify what has happened. I want to look at myself and not feel like I’ve lost the good in me. The negativity has sapped my strength and my joy. It’s like shoes that are too tight; you can act like everything is fine but the truth is all your thinking about is your feet and getting home and taking off those damn shoes. Except these shoes don’t come off. Rain or shine that attitude is sitting right under the surface.
So maybe I’m here writing this to tell myself to let it go. Those shoes might go with that outfit, but they just aren’t worth it. Que será, será. I know that loving people is the ultimate goal in life and for me at least, there is no happiness without love and tenderness for people even people who see the world very differently than I do. So here’s to love and the hope it prevails in the hearts of all!
Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake
Ingredients
- CAKE
- 5 tbsp butter
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup sour cream
- FILLING
- 1/2 cup walnuts chopped
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips optional
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3 tbsp butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 350°.
- FOR THE CAKE
- In a mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar and oil until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and beat until incorporated. Add the salt and flavorings and beat until well blended.
- In a separate bowl, whisk to together, flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture alternately with the sour cream, mixing on slow speed until just blended.
- FOR THE FILLING
- Combine the nuts, chocolate chips (if using), sugar, flour, cinnamon, and butter in a bowl and mix well.
- Spoon half of the cake batter into a lightly greased 9" tube or bundt pan. Sprinkle 2/3 of the filling onto batter and then top with the remaining batter and sprinkle with remaining filling.
- Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove from the pan and let cool on a rack until completely cooled. Enjoy!
I love food! I read cookbooks like they were novels. I get giddy in a farmer’s market. I find a chicken in a pot surrounded by carrots, onion, and celery a thing of beauty. My favorite sound is Mmmmmmmm!
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