Monday, March 28, 2011

Wishes and Yogurt Coffee Cake

My daughter wrote this poem when she was eight.

Things are Perfect the Way They Are

Did you know that I don't
have any wishes to put in this
world because the world is
perfect the way it is.

Rainbows have perfect colors
so I think that rainbows are
perfect the way they are.

Houses have perfect shelter
so I think houses are
perfect the way they are.

Blankets are warm and
cozy so I think blankets are
perfect the way they are.

Teddy bears help me go to sleep
so I think teddy bears are
perfect the way they are.

The world is a safe place to
live so I think the world is
perfect the way it is.

You are special the way
you are so you are you
and that is...PERFECT!

© Anna Goodman, (Dec. 2007)

Here's Anna's favorite coffee cake.
It's perfect just the way it is.


Yogurt Coffee Cake

Serves 12


1 cup firmly packed golden brown sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

1½ cups flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon soda
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1½ cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup plain yogurt (or sour cream)
1½ teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare pan by greasing and sprinkling with flour. {You can use a bundt pan, a brownie pan, or a loaf pan.}

Mix topping ingredients (brown sugar, walnuts and cinnamon) in small bowl and set aside.

Whisk together flour, baking powder and soda.

Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and 1½ cups sugar in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in yogurt and vanilla. Add flour mixture and mix until combined.

Spoon half of batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle half of brown sugar mixture over and swirl into batter. Spoon remaining batter over. Sprinkle remaining brown sugar mixture over.

Bake cake until tester comes out clean, about 1 hour (depending on what you bake the cake in).



10 comments:

Anonymous said...

That poem is just simply... well... perfect. It really brought a smile to my face; what a gem of a daughter you have :)

And that coffee cake? Most times the simplest things in life are the best, and I have faith in this one becoming a fast favorite, surely!

Anonymous said...

SO sweet!! Tell Anna we love her poem. This cake DOES look perfect just the way it is :)

Kayte said...

To Anna, Your poem is great and timeless...we all need to sit back every now and again and appreciate all the lovely things in our lives, thanks for the reminder...it was perfect the way you said it all!

To Shari, The cake looks great!

Katrina said...

What a great poem and delicious cake!

Shelley said...

I'm not the only one who got tears in my eyes over the poem, am I?

Anonymous said...

Mmm.. coffee cake. And what a sweet poem. I'm sure that's one to adorn the refrigerator for years to come!

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

This is such a beautiful poem. She is talented. And the Coffee cake looks so yummy.

pigpigscorner said...

Your girls is...perfect =)

Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray said...

How sweet! And that cake looks delicious!

The Addicted Baker said...

This looks scrumptious!