Blueberry Cardamom Coffee Cake
Plump, sweet blueberries are the star of summer fruits. Filled with high levels of antioxidants, vitamin C and fiber, blueberries are low in calories and delicious to eat alone or in fresh fruit salads, over ice cream sundae’s or baked pastries. Perfect now through the end of October; look for berries that are firm and dry with smooth skin.
Avoid containers that have crushed berries or juice stained bottoms. Remove moldy or crushed berries before storing in the refrigerator. Buy extra blueberries now and freeze for use in the months to come. Place unwashed berries in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze. When solid, store in airtight container for several months. Use frozen berries when baking cakes and muffins to reduce the chance of color streaking the batter.
Cardamom, an uncommon spice in the U.S. is native to India and Sri Lanka. The heady fragrant black seed found in green cardamom pods are used extensively in Indian, Asian and Scandinavian cuisines. Third in line of most expensive spices behind saffron and vanilla, cardamom stays freshest when purchased in small quantities and used within several months. For optimal flavor, buy the whole pod and gently crush to remove seeds. Grind in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder just before using. Penzeys Spice in Torrance, Indian and Middle Eastern markets sell cardamom for the best price.
Blueberry Cardamom Coffee Cake
Note: This recipe developed by Hermosa Beach Resident Mary Ellen Rae was adapted from an article on cardamom written by Chef Rae and published in the Los Angeles Times Food Section. Remove butter, eggs and milk 30 minutes before using.
Serves: 16
| Topping: | Cake: |
| 1/3 cup brown sugar | ½ cup unsalted butter, plus more to grease pan |
| ¼ teaspoon cinnamon | 1 cup sugar |
| ¼ teaspoon finely ground cardamom | 2 eggs |
| 1 cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans | 1 ½ cups flour |
| 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces | 2 teaspoons baking powder |
| ½ teaspoon salt | |
| ½ teaspoon finely ground cardamom | |
| ½ cup milk | |
| ¾ cup blueberries |
Combine the topping ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8 x 8 – inch baking pan and set aside. Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time blending well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom. Set mixer to low speed, add half the milk alternating with half the flour. Add remaining milk and flour, and beat on medium speed for two minutes. Gently fold in the blueberries.
Spread half the batter into the baking pan; sprinkle half the topping over the batter. Scrape out remaining batter and smooth out to edges. Sprinkle remaining topping evenly over batter. Bake until top is a deep golden brown and a tooth pick inserted in the middle comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Cool slightly, serve warm or at room temperature.
Chef Mary Ellen Rae is the owner of Personal Touch Gourmet; specializing in private and group in-home cooking classes and small event catering. Contact Personal Touch Gourmet at 310-403-5682 or MaryEllen@PersonalTouchGourmet.net






Reader Comments
At last, somoene comes up with the “right” answer!
yXQRBq yppzbbpjcnoe
9OHZ3x , [url=http://hfjlxfblzsof.com/]hfjlxfblzsof[/url], [link=http://pzneucgfacxv.com/]pzneucgfacxv[/link], http://oqnjbvsitmpj.com/
11A1tK amdlrcwbqsoj
7N3oHP , [url=http://sbpfcbyzizsb.com/]sbpfcbyzizsb[/url], [link=http://ilfpxntzxlml.com/]ilfpxntzxlml[/link], http://otudgvndnqzq.com/
Thank you Krishna sir,We really aeiapcprte for your kind information regarding our beloved village. It has been always fantastic to hear news about our village in such a way,especially, in development sector. I am very much proud of you that you have been serving for our village for such a long prior of time.When I saw your face it remind me of my school age and all those stupid things that i used to do at that time. It just feels like yesterday, I feel young again like a boy. I do hope you also feel the same as me, don’t you sir? I have no doubt you have a huge connection with the school and village both emotionally and physically. I know you love the place same as any other villagers. Only one thing is different with compare to other is that you have been contributing with your highly respected qualification, dedication and honestly almost whole of your life.My heartfelt thanks to you for your hard work and showing such an enthusiasm towards our village and as well as school.We are very lucky to have such a generous teacher and proud of you.Your sincerelyEx student Arjun badmas danda ghar.PS it would be better if you could publish your e mail add so we can contact you personally in future.
YUDzAW apetaghctjok
qg2ZnP , [url=http://zpfwiafpisvc.com/]zpfwiafpisvc[/url], [link=http://zewmlnkdtesm.com/]zewmlnkdtesm[/link], http://mpuwhzkyxgsi.com/
E0WmLx vwirkzvngrhd
whfisC , [url=http://mnboumkhghha.com/]mnboumkhghha[/url], [link=http://ijphezjqarpy.com/]ijphezjqarpy[/link], http://zdjwpmpzsswz.com/