Sour Cream Coffee Cake

George Hirsch September 17, 2024

Would you like a slice of old-fashioned-style cake that is equally good for a morning coffee break, mid-day snack, and even dessert? Then this is it.

What I really like about this cake is that it isn't overly sweet. I created this recipe using all-purpose flour, not cake flour, which makes a denser crumb with a nice texture. The dairy mix of sour cream, yogurt, and milk is a harmonious trifecta in achieving a light and flavorful addition to every slice. Use good fresh eggs + butter, and you'll have a hit.

I do warn you with caution - when you catch the first aromas of this cake baking in the oven, you will be tempted to stand by with a knife at the ready. But please wait for the cake to cool completely for a couple of hours. Slicing this coffee cake prematurely will allow steam (or moisture) to escape, thereby making for a drier cake when it cools. So please resist until it cools. This recipe also doubles as a test of patience. Enjoy!

No bundt pan, no problem! Coffee Cake Pie

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Makes a 9" Bundt Pan, about 10-12 slices

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For the Crumb Topping:

1/2 cup light brown sugar

6 Tablespoons sweet butter, softened

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Place the butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and vanilla in a bowl and crumble together with your fingers until it forms a crumb mixture. Add in the nuts—reserve and mix the cake batter.

For the Cake: SEE RECIPE BELOW

1/2 cup sweet butter, one stick softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, beaten

2 cups All-Purpose Flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt

1/4 cup 2% milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon fresh-grated orange rind

Grease and flour two 9-inch pie pans, or a tube, Bundt-style, or a regular-sized 9 1/2-inch baking pan.

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Mix in eggs, vanilla, and orange zest, one at a time. Scrape the sides of the bowl again.

In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, combine sour cream, yogurt, and milk. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture alternately in three stages with the sour cream, yogurt, and milk mixture, stirring and scraping the bowl with a spatula after each addition. Mix until just blended. Do not over-mix.

Place half the batter in the pan and sprinkle with half the topping mixture. With the back of the butter knife, swirl the batter slightly to mix the crumb mixture slightly into the bottom of the cake batter. Add the remaining batter, then the crumb topping.

Bake coffee cake in a preheated 350°F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until the cake tests are done. Cool for 15-20 minutes; remove from the pan by placing a large plate over the top of the cake, and invert the pan. Tap the sides of the cake pan to free the cake from the pan, place a serving platter over the bottom, and invert again. The crumb topping should be on the top side to serve. Allow cooling at least 2 hours (if you can) before slicing!

Cover the cake once fully cooled.

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Speedy Side

George Hirsch August 23, 2024

Don't feel like peeling the spuds or steaming rice on a warm day? Try my cool couscous salad, which is ready to serve in a matter of minutes. It's a great make-ahead cold side salad that travels well from your kitchen to your tailgate.

Couscous is a staple side dish of North Africa, Sicily, and the Middle East. It is made from semolina or granules of durum wheat. A healthy side dish contains a 1 % low fat-to-calorie ratio of 3.6 grams of protein for every 100 grams. My flavorful Couscous and Tomato Salad tastes so good. Who will remember the dish is healthy?

Couscous is a quick, healthy dish that becomes fluffy when cooked and has a slightly chewy—firm texture. Traditionally, it was hand-rolled, but today, it's made by machine: The coarsely ground durum wheat (semolina) is moistened and tossed with fine wheat flour until it forms tiny, round balls.

There are three main types: Moroccan, Israeli, and Lebanese. Most couscous available in North America is "instant" or quick-cooking.

In Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, it’s steamed over a simmered stew after being tossed with a little water or oil.

Serve warm or chilled with grilled, or go all veggies and top with Acorn Squash.

Couscous and Tomato Salad (see recipe below)

Makes four cups

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1 1/2 cups Couscous

2 cups chicken broth

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1/4 sweet onion, chopped

1/4 sweet red bell pepper, chopped

2 Tablespoons pine nuts and raisins

2 Tablespoons fresh mint, chopped

For Tomato Dressing: 2 Tablespoons lemon juice; 1 Tablespoon honey; 1/2 cup vine ripened tomatoes, chopped; 1/4 cup chick peas; cooked or canned rinsed & drained; 1/4 cup olive oil; 2 teaspoons curry powder; pinch of cinnamon

Preheat a sauté pan; add one tablespoon of olive oil, onions, and peppers. Sauté three to five minutes until tender. Add pine nuts and raisins and cook for one additional minute. Add couscous; mix with the onion and pepper mixture. Add boiling hot chicken broth and 1 Tablespoon mint, cover, and remove from the stove. Allow to rest for five minutes.

Meanwhile, make Tomato Dressing by mixing tomatoes, chickpeas, lemon juice, honey, olive oil, curry, cinnamon, and the remaining mint.

After the couscous has sat covered for five minutes, remove the lid and mix with a fork or spoon to loosen the granules. Top with the tomato dressing and mix well.

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Farmer's Grilled Potato Salad

georgehirsch August 15, 2024

*Grilled Summer Squash with Thyme and Thai Basil*

Summer's bounty from the farm inspired this salad, made with baby Yukon potatoes, colorful confetti of grilled peppers, eggplant, zucchini, sweet red, green and white onion & fresh dill. You can embellish this recipe by adding any grilled sliced meats or seafood.

George Hirsch Basket of Fresh Picked Farm Vegetables

Farmer's Grilled Potato Salad
Makes 8 servings

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For the Dressing:
3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 Tablespoon horseradish
4 Tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon sea salt fresh ground pepper to taste

- Mix all ingredients in a small bowl.

For the Salad:
2 pounds Yukon, blue or red new potatoes - grill roast, or boil, cool—then chill in refrigerator overnight
1 each sweet white & red onions, sliced and grilled 6 green onions, trimmed and grilled
1 each: red, yellow & green bell peppers, split - grilled, and sliced 1 each eggplant, sliced and grilled1 each green and yellow squash, sliced and grilled1/4 cup olive oil
4 Tablespoons fresh dill, chopped1 teaspoon sea salt fresh ground pepper to taste

Two days before serving: Cook potatoes. If grilling, slice or split potatoes in half; if boiling, leave whole. Cool at room temperature, then place in refrigerator. The day before serving: Cut potatoes into 1/2-inch pieces. Combine potatoes and dill in a large bowl. Add 3/4 of the dressing and toss well. Refrigerate overnight. Grill vegetables for 2-3 minutes on each side. Brush with olive oil and top with dill, sea salt, and pepper. Cool at room temperature, then place in refrigerator.

Day of serving: Mix the remaining 1/4 of the dressing in the potatoes. Arrange grilled vegetables on a platter with potato salad. Just before serving. Top with a fresh sprig of dill.

Food Safety Tip: Never put hot or warm food in the refrigerator. Chill to room temperature, and then place in the refrigerator uncovered. After food has become fully chilled, then cover.

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The Rooster's Beak

George Hirsch August 13, 2024

You must want to know why Pico de Gallo is referred to as the rooster's beak. It actually refers to the bite-size (beak-size) proportions of fresh tomatoes in this chunky salsa of Mexican origin. How about that! You may also be familiar with its other name, Salsa Fresca.

The garden tomato bounty is here for a few more minutes, so this is an ideal week to make my pico de gallo from my own tomatoes and peppers. Serve Pico de Gallo with corn tortillas or my Cilantro Shrimp Nachos for más divertido! And watch my Crispy Shrimp Salad recipe video below for more flavorful ideas.

George Hirsch's Salsa Fresca

Makes 3 cups

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8-10 San Marzano plum tomatoes, split de-seeded

1 small sweet white onion or sweet red onion + 1 green onion

2 jalapeño peppers, split and de-seeded chopped (optional)

1/2 cup peeled, seeded, and diced cucumber

1/4 teaspoon hot sauce

2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro

Salt and pepper, to taste

Juice of two fresh limes

1 Tablespoon olive oil

Cut all veggies into 1/4-inch pieces. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix and set aside one hour to allow flavors to develop. Serve at room temperature.

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Sardinian Style

George Hirsch August 8, 2024

If there was ever a fish perfect for the fire, tuna fits the grill. Anyone who has tried to turn a delicate fish fillet only to find it stuck to the grate will appreciate the firm flesh of a tuna steak.

Fresh tuna is ideal for rich spices. Soy and ginger lend an Asian flavor, maple syrup gives a hint of sweetness, and a salsa topping adds a Mexican flair. Start with fresh fish that has springy flesh and no fishy odor. Use caution; overcooking will quickly dry it.

Sardinia is an island off the coast of Italy where fishing is a way of life. When the tuna is running, most families have tuna for dinner many nights in a row. The tuna in this recipe is quickly seared for only a few minutes on each side, but you can cook it to your liking. And, any fish, such as swordfish, may be substituted for tuna.

Tuna and Tomatoes, Sardinian Style

Makes 4 servings

chefgeorgehirsch.com | From Adventures in Grilling cookbook, by George Hirsch with Marie Bianco

Four 6-8 ounce tuna steaks

4 Tablespoons olive oil

12 plum tomatoes cut vertically through the stem ends

1 onion, sliced

1/4 cup dry white wine

8 cloves caramelized garlic

4 Tablespoons chopped green olives

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Fresh ground black pepper

Preheat the grill to high.

Brush the tuna with 2 Tablespoons of olive oil, place it on a hot grill, and sear for two minutes on each side. Remove the tuna, set it aside, and keep it warm.

Preheat a sauté pan and add the remaining olive oil, garlic, onion, tomatoes, and olives. Cook for two minutes, and add white wine, basil, and black pepper. Stir the tomato mixture and add it to the warm tuna steaks.

TIP: Serve with a good chilled Sauvignon Blanc.