In the Kitchen

The most aromatic memories of my grandmother’s kitchen are of cinnamon and nutmeg. They started when I was young and lucky enough to stop by her house as her coffee cake cooled. During the seven decades that have passed since then, I have made literally hundreds of her coffee cakes. I start by assembling the ingredients – the flours, sugars, a tad of salt, Wesson Oil, and then the nutmeg.

If you have never ground your own nutmeg, I hope you will try it. More than a decade ago, I inherited my mom’s nutmeg grinder. That’s when I discovered that when you grind a whole nutmeg, a gorgeous explosion of aroma bursts into the air. Now, all writers know that describing aromas is very challenging. I can say the words that come to mind for me are: sweet, spicy, aromatic, peppery, woody, and nutty. Nutmeg, a cousin to mace, has been hailed to be “worth its weight in gold.” Not only that, but nutmeg has many health benefits.

My memories grow richer with passing time and they, also, are becoming worth their weight in gold. My grandmothers recipe is at least six to seven decades old. Unlike many of my family’s old recipes, I find that this coffee cake holds more nutrition than many. Should you wish to try it, I’ve shared it below.

Grandmother Davis’ Coffee Cake Ingredients: 2 cups sifted unbleached white flour (I like to substitute 1/2 cup whole wheat flour for the same amount of white) 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 cup Wesson Oil

Mix the first 5 ingredients thoroughly. Remove 2 teaspoons of mixture and mix, in a small bowl, with: 1 teaspoon of cinnamon 1 cup chopped nuts (I love pecans for this coffee cake). Set bowl aside.

Mix the following together and add to first mixture: 1 cup buttermilk (1 teaspoon vinegar and milk to = 1 cup) 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 beaten egg

Beat thoroughly. Place in lightly oiled 9″ x 9″ pan. Sprinkle nut mixture on top. Bake 30-45 minutes at 350 degrees.

As I remove Mom’s Coffee Cake from the oven on this evening, my kitchen fills with the incredible nutmeg scent. I am so thankful for many more reasons than nutmeg that she was part of my life. All day, I’ve been remembering your birthday, Mom Davis. Tonight I wish you, with so much gratitude, a Happy Birthday with even more love.