I offered to make brunch for my family when I was visiting this past weekend. I invited over my Aunt and Uncle , my cousin and her husband (and their baby, Christian, who is the cutest little boy ever!) and of course, my parents, my brother, and my boyfriend Jack. I wanted to make the most unique brunch ever! Poached eggs on top of Italian Sausage and Manchengo Cheese on Ciabatta, Carrot Cake Pancakes, Buttermilk Drop Biscuits, and Dorie Greenspan's Blueberry Crumb Cake, chosen by Sihan of Befuddlement (click for recipe).
Unfortunately, my family likes simple foods. "Meat and Potatoes" (pronounced Puhtaytahs) as my father likes to call it. I say this because if I try to cook anything "weird" (meaning anything with more than 3 ingredients and those ingredients are anything but a combinatio steak, tomato sauce, rice, chicken, or hamburgers) my father makes a face and chews his food like a five year old (you know, when the chewed food is slightly sticking out between the lips because the person eating it just "can't get it down").
So whenever I try to cook for my family, I overcompensate. They say that quantity does not outdo quality. Well, since my family likes simple foods, I always try to make everything, because what fun is it otherwise?
I know, I know. Well if you are making eggs, they should be the best damn eggs you've ever had.
This is true. But I'll just try to make the best eggs, the best pancakes, the best chicken potato hash, the best sausage, the best bacon and the best blueberry crumbcake you ever did see! And then I'll buy some bagels from the best bagel store on Long Island!
I always - ALWAYS - bite off more than I can chew.
"Hey, it's simple, I'm just making eggs and pancakes" turns into me yelling at my boyfriend for not measuring flour correctly (he scoops directly from the bag!!!), bowls filled with flours, sugar, eggs, butter, and whatever else is needed for my mise en place scattered throughout the house (there is no kitchen big enough for me), me cursing the lack of cooking equipment at my parents house (what do you MEAN you don't have a mandolin? How do you expect me to cook without a spice grinder? These knives don't cut ANYTHING!), me scrambling like a madwoman while people are arriving, and by the time the food all reaches the table, it is somehow cold.
I must say, the breakfast did turn out well, despite the eggs being ice cold (people need to sit down faster!) and slightly coagulated (why, oh why, do people own electric stoves?). But what was the one shining star of this breakfast?
Well, the pancakes. I'll post the recipe later this week. They are phenomenal.
But what was the second most popular part of the breakfast?
That is right! The blueberry crumb cake! This cooked up beautifully. The cake itself was extremely tall and light and the crumbs on top were pure perfection. I actually thought the cake part itself was quite bland, and the next time I make this, I will add some nutmeg and cinnamon right to the batter and add more orange zest, because it really would have added a very nice dimension to this.
And for my next brunch, maybe I'll pare it down a little bit.
But probably not.
Sounds like you and I have a lot in common...I always bite off more than I can chew when I cook for people! Then I also yell at my husband and somehow it becomes his problem too.
Anyway, glad the cake was a hit with the family! It looks delicious :)
Posted by: Tracey | March 24, 2009 at 01:11 AM
The cake looks absolutely perfect!!
Posted by: Marthe | March 24, 2009 at 06:58 AM
Your crumb cake looks great! I'm glad your brunch went well!!!!
Posted by: Jennifer | March 24, 2009 at 09:18 AM
I can see why this was such a hit...it looks so perfect and so very very beautiful! Great job. Your family stories are always such fun!
Posted by: Kayte | March 24, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Glad your brunch went well! The cake looks great, I always add cinnamon when I make it and I use almonds and mixed berries.
Posted by: Maria | March 24, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Oh gosh -- I have the EXACT SAME PROBLEMS with going way overboard. I end up totally stressed whenever we have anyone over, because I try to make too much. And I always end up griping at my hubs, as if he planned the menu. AH, good times. That said, I'd like to have brunch at your house, because you put on quite the spread. Can't wait to read about the pancakes. And your crumb cake looks fabulous!
Posted by: Cathy | March 24, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Carrot cake pancakes? is there even such a recipe? *swoons*.. the cake looks utterly desirable. You did such a fantastic job!
Posted by: Sihan | March 24, 2009 at 12:28 PM
I do the same thing when I host holidays for my family. I make a TON of food and worry about every little thing.
Your cake looks great and I'm dying to see the carrot cake pancakes recipe. I love pancakes.
Posted by: Jennifer | March 24, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Oooh, yummy looking pics! :) Great job!!
Posted by: Hornedfroggy of My Baking Heart | March 24, 2009 at 02:16 PM
Okay, how did you get yours to look so moist? It looks fantastic! That's one thing I thought it lacked (at least mine), was a moist crumb. Wow - definitely an ambitious menu! I admire people who take that stuff on! Nicely done!!!
Posted by: mike | March 24, 2009 at 03:15 PM
That is some crumb cake you have there, pretty lady!
It looks moist and so blueberry!
My first attempt didn't go too well so I had to make another one.
You have to invite me over to the next brunch party. I am a total pancake freak. :)
Posted by: Sugar B | March 24, 2009 at 04:21 PM
I just love reading your posts! I can hardly wait to show it to my hubby! He thinks I am the only one who acts like a madwoman when I am cooking. Then, a saint when I am serving. Ha. I do the same thing planning and cooking. Your picture is perfect. It really showcases the cake. I can hardly wait to try it.
Posted by: carolina | March 24, 2009 at 04:32 PM
As complicated as a crumb cake sounds it has a simple elegance to it. And your looked awesome.
Oh - and are you sure you weren't talking about my family?
Posted by: Eliana | March 24, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Are we related? Because that's my dad's biggest gripe - the food is always cold, no matter how hard I bust my butt to get everything on the table.
And yes, I think we all bite off more than we can chew. It's a girl thing......
Posted by: Megan | March 24, 2009 at 06:36 PM
Your cake looks fantastic. I'm glad it was a hit with your family. I'm like you I try to make too much and then it stress out in the kitchen.
Carrot cake pancakes sound delicious. Were those the ones you made for your family? or did you make traditional ones?
Posted by: pinkstripes | March 24, 2009 at 07:19 PM
your brunch menu sounds fantastic, i'd be thrilled with that!
Posted by: karen | March 24, 2009 at 09:06 PM
I'm glad the cake was a hit! It's so hard not to want to show off the skills when baking/cooking for family.
Posted by: Stephanie | March 24, 2009 at 10:35 PM
I love your original menu for the brunch. I agree, once you get going in the kitchen it's hard to stop. And occasionally yell. Happy to hear your family liked this recipe.
Posted by: Margot | March 25, 2009 at 12:13 AM
This cake looks so delicious and I love that there are so many blueberries - yum!
Posted by: Natasha - 5 Star Foodie | March 25, 2009 at 12:48 AM
This is a really tasty recipe, especially the topping! I agree the cake part was a little lacking in flavor, good idea to add extra spice.
Posted by: Karen | March 25, 2009 at 09:38 AM