Peach Coffee Cake
*Recipe follows story
It’s rare that I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back to sleep. So, when it does happen, it’s unsettling.
On Wednesday, early morning, I was awoken from my slumber. Thoughts of work projects, personal projects and family took over my mind. No sleep for the woman that makes noms. I tossed and turned, desperate to find my way back to a peaceful place. I laid on my back. I rested on my right side. I flipped to the left. I turned on to my belly. I put my pillow on my air conditioner, hoping the cold against my face would comfort me, I did that a lot when I was a kid. I put my pillow at the foot of my bed, resting my body lengthwise - so my feet tapped my headboard.
I had nothing.
I couldn’t rest.
What ever does one do at 2:30am?
If I was sleeping with someone, probably make a booty call and fein drunkeness?
If I had a boyfriend, I’d have nudged him until he woke up. Then, in all likelihood, I’d proceed to talk his ear off about my hopes, dreams, anxiety and favorite ice cream flavor.
Instead, I turned to the the few things I do have - being as I’m a woman rich in Netflix streaming, flour, sugar, butter and fruit.
I thought an hour with Jon Hamm would quell my anxiety and take my mind off of things. Bad decision. Talk about complexities in relationships, family and work. His cold, distant and twisted nature caused me to become even more riled up. I knew I should’ve watched Roseanne or Cheers. John Goodman and Norm never fail to soothe me.
It was 3:45am. I was done with Jon.
I left my bed. I couldn’t lay still any longer.
I put my hair up in a pony tail and walked to my kitchen.
I put on a pot of coffee and sipped. I stared at my fruit bowl.
Peaches.
Peaches have been so sweet the past few weeks.
I got lost in a dizzying spell of peachy thoughts.
I sliced peaches, sifted flour, melted butter and baked.
I experienced calm.
Baking was the equivalent of being rocked to sleep.
Smelling peach coffee cake bake away in my oven was like being held, but better.
I had a piece with my coffee, alone, on my stoop, with the sunrise.
Peach Coffee Cake
1 peaches (peeled, pitted and cut into cubes)
1 1/2 c. flour + 2 T.
1/3 c. white sugar + 2 T.
2 tsp. baking powder
Zest from 1/2 of a lemon
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. half and half
1/3 c. light brown sugar
1 stick of butter
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees
-In a small bowl, toss peaches with 2 T. of flour and 2 T. of sugar and put aside
-In a large bowl, sift together 1 c. flour, 1/3 c. white sugar and baking powder, add lemon zest, then gently whisk in all milk and half and half and put aside
-Place 3 T. of butter in an 8”x8” pyrex dish and place in the oven until butter melts (this is to prep your baking dish)
-Put remaining 1/2 c. of flour and brown sugar in a bowl and mix
-Melt remaining 5 T. of butter (in a small bowl) and add to above flour and brown sugar mix, using a fork to form crumbles - and put aside
-Remove buttered pyrex dish from the oven (should be well melted)
-Pour batter into the pyrex dish
-Spoon peaches over top - DO NOT MIX
-Sprinkle crumble topping over the top of the batter/peaches
-Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes, until cake is deep golden brown
-Cool on a rack, cut chunky peachy pieces and serve (any time of day)
