A Very Special Coffee Cake

Most of you have already heard but my father, Al Zanetti, passed away last Sunday. For him, I'm going to resend this recipe from last year - it was his absolute favorite cake. I used to bake them and mail them to him.
--- Kimberly

This isn't your run of the mill coffee cake. A sure fire hit every time, this recipe, with 4 eggs and a pint of sour cream, isn't for those watching their cholesterol or fat grams but there is nothing better with your morning coffee or as an after dinner dessert.

Coffee Cake

1 cup butter -- softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 pint sour cream
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups flour

1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup walnuts -- chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a tube pan with shortening.

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and mix well. Add sour cream and mix well.
Add baking soda and vanilla and mix well then add flour, mixing just until incorporated.

Mix brown sugar cinnamon & walnuts in a separate bowl.

In tube pan place 2/3 of batter and make sure it is even.
On top of that, place 2/3 of streusel and then remaining batter. Swirl with a knife.
Then top with remaining streusel.
Place 6 walnut halves evenly on top of cake (optional).

Bake for 1 hour. Cool for 1 hour in pan on wire rack (this is very important, do not try and remove warm cake from pan) and then remove from pan and cool completely on rack.

--- © Chef Raven

http://www.sfpnn.com/chef_raven.htm

I am just an email away to answer all of your culinary questions at: CulinaryArtistry@aol.com.