Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake

This past Sunday I woke up – nay I felt compelled to get up earlier than I would have liked to because I had this crumb crake recipe on the brain and simply could not fall back asleep until I made it. You see I had stumbled upon this glorious coffee cake earlier in the week via Joy the Baker instagram. However, I was too lazy to go out and buy oranges wasn’t particularly in the mood for orange, I remained dead set on baking a nice little crumb topped cake to accompany some hot creamed coffee on my favorite morning of the week. I followed Martha Stewart’s recipe for Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake.

As with all things Martha, mine did not come out as perfect as her photograph showed. Mine didn’t turn out as volumous because after I poured the batter into my too-big spring form pan , I realized there was not going to be any “in between” layer but rather one layer with some struesel topping swirled throughout, while the majority sat packed atop the cake in all it’s buttery sugared nutty goodness. It was moist and delicious and the perfect way to start a new week and a beautiful, wintery Sunday.

NYC Craftacular & Food fair

This past Saturday I headed into NYC and visited  the Craftacular & Food Fair sponsored by BUST Magazine in NYC’s SoHo neighborhood. Being able to see so many talented artists and designers, knitters, jewelry makers, photographers, food enthusiasts, painters and printers come together in one place to sell their handmade items and appreciate the work of others, was a great big jolt of creative inspiration. A lot of the artists there had Etsy shops and it was lovely to meet the men and women behind the work  in person. It offered me a chance to talk to them about their process and to hear them speak about their work and why they love it. Craftacular also served up some fine craft beer that I found to be the perfect accompaniment to the visual feast I was treated to!

Main room with 200+ vendors

hand drawn and letterpress printed holiday cards and calendars

refreshments yum

A creative  jewelry display

unique plate sets

vintage typographic prints

a graphic print dress + leather riding boots for a day of walking

We  stopped at Mudtruck for coffee en route. The Caramel Cappuccino was delicious

Overall, I was impressed with the diversity of artists brought together by BUST Magazine and felt that the $3 admissions was more than fair to pay to gain entrance. Also, I can’t lie – picking up the unique, hand drawn and illustrated business cards & small zines at each table , which were provided by the artists, was something of “kid got loose in a candy store story”….and I am not ashamed.

=) Thanks for stopping by ya’ll!