Eating better, eating together

Eating together is an important part of relationship building in a family. It bridges gaps between generations through stories, cooking and recipes. Not too long ago, many families ate a nutritious, home-cooked meal together. Sometimes the food was homegrown- straight from the family garden. However times have changed.

Now people are on the go or on social media and have little time to eat with one another. Our jobs and academic obligations now have us eating at fast-food establishments by ourselves with no one to talk to. Nowadays, a family may eat together during national or religious holidays at most. The precious moments of spending time dining together are irreplaceable. At Littlest Tumor Foundation, we dedicate this month to eating better with those whom we call family and friends. So take the time to eat better and  eat together as a family this month.

The Coffee Cake Test by Jenny Rosenstrach

The Coffee Cake Test

I can't remember how it started but when my daughter is out of school with a cold or a fever I always ask her the same two questions when she wakes up in the morning. First: "How are you feeling?" and Second: "Would you like a piece of cinnamon coffee cake?" It's her favorite thing to eat in the world and I know that if she turns down this extremely generous offer, she needs to stay in bed, home from school another day. Usually, just about any cinnamon coffee cake will do for her, but I recently inherited this cake recipe from my neighbor, Lori after sampling (and swooning over) it at her Yom Kippur break-the-fast feast. Last week, after four days in bed, we celebrated my daughters' improved health by baking it together.

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

These instructions call for a 13-by-9 baking pan, but you can use a loaf pan like I did (there might be a little batter left over) and just bake it for about 50 minutes to an hour, until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, cover with foil for remaining bake time.

NUT MIXTURE

• 1 cup sugar


• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans


• 1 tablespoon cinnamon

BATTER

• 4 eggs


• 1 cup sugar


• 1 teaspoon vanilla


• 3/4 cup butter melted


• 2 cups sour cream


• 2 cups unsifted all purpose flour


• 2 teaspoon baking powder


• 2 teaspoons baking soda


• 1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Grease 13-by-9 inch baking pan.

Make nut mixture — in small bowl combine sugar, nuts, cinnamon; mix well. Make batter — in large bowl, with electric mixer at medium speed, beat eggs until frothy. Add sugar and vanilla, beating until smooth.

Add melted butter and sour cream; beat until well combined. Sift in flour, baking powder, soda and salt; at low speed, beat until just smooth. Spread half of batter in prepared pan; sprinkle evenly with half of nut mixture.

Top with remaining batter, spreading evenly, then the nut mixture.

Bake 35-40 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.