The gorgeous beans are a testament to George’s nurturing skills.
Indeed, George is a fixture at Restoration Farm, and his specialty – Iowa City Coffee Cake – is a fixture at farm pot luck dinners. You’d better not wait long to visit the dessert table on Pot Luck Night. Those who dawdle will miss their chance to get a thick slice of this moist cake, layered with fragrant cinnamon. It's a classic, and so is George.
As for the name, Iowa City Coffee Cake – I can tell you that Iowa City is located in the state of Iowa, and there are nearly 70 thousand residents. So, what’s the connection to the coffee cake? I don’t want to give away any trade secrets. You’ll have to pay a visit to the farm and ask George. You’re likely to find him in the field taking good care of the pole beans. He will greet you with a friendly smile, and a great story.
George Garbarini’s Iowa City Coffee Cake
Ingredients:
2 sticks margarine
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups self-rising flour
1 8-ounce container sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons cinnamon and 2 tablespoons sugar mixed together in a small cup
Confectioner’s sugar for decoration
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour Bundt pan. Melt margarine and pour in large bowl. With electric mixer, mix in sugar. Mix in 2 eggs. Mix in flour. Mix in 1 cup of sour cream. Mix in teaspoon of vanilla.
Pour half of batter into bundt pan. Sprinkle evenly with half of sugar and cinnamon mixture. Pour in rest of batter. Sprinkle with remainder of sugar and cinnamon.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes – not longer or it might burn. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Invert onto cake plate.
After fully cooled, dust with confectioner’s sugar and enjoy!
©2010 T.W. Barritt All Rights Reserved
I aspire to be like George someday and have a second career as a farmer sometime in the future. His Iowa City Cake looks fabulous, rich and moist.
ReplyDeleteI was hooked just by the title, but after reading about lovely George and his beans I'm sold ! The recipe sounds very much like the sour cream coffee cake which was my requested birthday cake as a child ! My mom made it with butter and topped it with a streusel crumb ... much better than cupcakes ! :)
ReplyDeleteI would really love to visit the Farm and ask George his secret and share stories over that delicious coffee cake. Do you think he does take-out?
ReplyDeleteSam
I am with Fresh Local... I can't think of anything better than ducking the rat race and settling in on a farm. Coffee cake on the kitchen table, shared with neighbors over a fresh pot of joe... how do you top that!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post! George looks like someone who'd be a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteHoly Mackerel.
ReplyDeleteI love a cake like this.
I can smell it now........
2 sticks, but oh so worth it!
I really enjoyed this. The title was a grabber and I stayed with you all the way. I hope all is well. Blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteThat is indeed a classic coffee cake!
ReplyDeleteKudos to George for not only making that divine cake, but for his second career as a farmer. It's keeping him young!
I'd dearly love to hear the story behind the recipe's name. I'm certain it's a good one.
I already love George! I love this farm! I love when you post about the farm.
ReplyDeleteJudging by his smile, this George is a happy man. This lifestyle is my ideal one and I hoe to emulate it soon!
ReplyDelete