Coffee Cake

Want to hear my story behind this cake?

It's pretty amusing, I promise.

Okay.... I am on theNew Year's resolution bandwagon to eat healthier. (Holy, 2 weeks in and still going strong! A new record for me.) I decided to go buy some low fat Greek yogurt to have instead of regular yogurt as, apparently, Greek yogurt is "in" right now and supposed to be very rich and creamy.

Anyways...I wanted plain so I could Magic Bullet it with fruit to make smoothies.

I went up and down the aisle in the grocery store and finally found the Greek yogurt,

Hmmm.... it's all flavored....no plain....

Wait....there is a plain one. There is no colors on the label to indicate a fruit flavor... I'm good to go.

I get home and excitedly try out my first smoothie. A scoop of yogurt and some fruit and I am on my way.

Yup, sure is thick. I guess people were right about it.

Then I go to get more to make my lunch for the next day and I see a weird looking colored line in the yogurt. Like someone used a dirty spoon to steal some and left trace evidence.

Nope...no one in the house touched it.

I stick my spoon in to see if it's mold and there is more of this weird looking stuff under the yogurt.

What the heck is this?

Oooooooooooooh...it's STRAWBERRY Greek yogurt. You know, fruit on the bottom...

Yes...apparently STRAWBERRY Greek yogurt was on the label, I just can't read. 

Okay, that's no problem. I like strawberry yogurt. I'll eat it.

On my next trip to the grocery store I was determined to get PLAIN Greek yogurt.

Down to the where the Greek yogurt was... okay....plain...plain...plain...there has to be plain...

Yay! Plain Greek yogurt...is it low fat?

Yes.....there is the low fat label.

Okay, let's give this one a try.

Now I am really excited to try my new smoothie with plain Greek yogurt.

Yup...nothing on the bottom of this one. Good to go...

Hmmm...boy this sure is tangy.

Really tangy.

Is greek yogurt really THAT strong? Where's the carton? I have to read the label.

Oooooooooooh....it's not plain, low fat Greek yogurt.

It's plain, low fat GOAT yogurt.

Apparently I can't read. Again.

I guess that is why there is a little cartoon goat on the carton. 

FYI - goat yogurt is really, really, REALLY strong. Even the low fat version.

Like - BAZAAM! Here's your yogurt...

BUT, on the up side - it is high in protein and makes for an incredibly moist coffee cake.

Coffee Cake

Ingredients

1 cup butter, room temp

1 cup white sugar

3 eggs

3 cups flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

pinch salt

1 tsp maple flavoring (You can use vanilla if you prefer)

1/2 cup water

1 cup yogurt (or sour cream)

1 cup chopped pecans (or whichever nuts you prefer)

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9 inch bundt pan or a 9 X 13 pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, until combined.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir into creamed mixture.

Stir the maple flavoring into the 1/2 cup of water. Mix this and the yogurt into the batter until just combined. Do not over mix.

In a small bowl, combine pecans, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Spread half the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with half of the nut mixture.

Top with remaining batter. Sprinkle with remaining nut mixture.

Bake for approximately 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Depending on what size pan you use you will have to watch your cooking time.

Remove from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes before inverting onto wire rack to cool completely. If you bake it in a 9 X 13 dish you may want to serve it right from the pan, in which case you do not need to remove it from the pan.

I was going to be all clever and call this "Goat Yogurt Coffee Cake", like I used the goat yogurt on purpose,  but I didn't. I think if people read "goat yogurt" they would be scared away and I wouldn't want that. This cake is worth making - with or without goat yogurt - so I hope you give it a try.

Oh, and in case you were wondering. I have given up my search for plain, low fat Greek yogurt for now. I don't know what I would bring home next but I'm a little afraid...I mean...GOAT yogurt...really?

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