Post # 135: Let Them Eat Lowfat Coffee Cake!

Since my hubby's departure, I have really been keeping busy with cleaning and household chores. One of my favorite chores is laundry. It fulfills my need to keep busy while being entertained. Folding laundry while watching t.v. comes in a close second only to talking on the phone with my peeps while I clean the house. This week, I have been washing more than my usual loads of laundry. Our teen daughter is working, the youngun is still in all kinds of activities, and the baby gets food all over her clothes, so my laundry baskets are overflowing with towels, outfits, and play clothes.
Ah, to live the good life.

Where am I going with all of this? Oh, yeah, watching t.v. while folding and sorting laundry. My guilty pleasure is reality t.v. No, I do not mean American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, or You Think You Can Dance? I mean E!, TLC, and Bravo shows. I can't help myself. I will deliberately pile on the laundry just to finish a series of these shows. What shows? Tori and Dean's Home Sweet Hollywood, Kendra, Denise Richards, John and Kate Plus Eight, and every once in a while, The Real Housewives of New Jersey. I roll my eyes at all of them, but can not seem to change the channel. As I unabashedly admit to watching these shows, I will also confess that my I have asked my daughter to record some of them for me, just for laundry duty. Uh, yeah.

While I could name a bunch of reasons why I think all these people have issues and I can not believe they are celebrities of some kind with a show, I will strictly focus on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. I mean, I can not believe these women can not see how ridiculous they are. Although, I doubt they care, especially since they are surrounded by all that money. Have you seen their houses and possessions? More importantly, have you seen their kids? They are just as ridiculous as their mothers. Gaudy, pancaked on make up, loud, crass, super shallow, super dingy, sad little versions of their mothers who are the same way. How do these people manage to be from the same primordial soup we are from?

Speaking of soup, back to my food blog. In an attempt to continue to make over my menu, here is a reduced fat baking treat to share with your loved ones, friends, or Sunday school class.

From lowfat coffee cake

This is a very light version of a coffee cake. By light, I not only mean calories, but texture as well. No one will feel cheated out of taste, but definitely it will go over even better when you reveal it is reduced fat.

Here is the EASY recipe adapted from Kroger's Baking Reduced Fat Baking Mix:

Reduced Fat Coffee Cake

2 tbsp. vegetable oil

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup skim milk

1 1/2 cup sifted Reduced Fat Baking Mix

3/4 cup of sugar

Crumb Topping (referred to on box as Spicy Topping)

Heat over to 375F. Combine oil, egg, and milk. Sift together dry ingredients, add to milk mixture, and mix well. Pour into greased 9"X9"X2" pan. Sprinkle with Crumb (spicy) topping. Bake for 25 minutes.

Topping: Combine 1/4 brown sugar, 2 tbsp. reduced fat baking mix, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tbsp butter or margarine (not spread), and 1/2 cup broken nuts.

From lowfat coffee cake

I just love coffee cakes. I will try almost any recipe. There is nothing like sitting at a table with fellow coffee drinkers and having an awesome conversations over some hot joe and a baked treat, especially if the conversation is about those silly reality t.v. shows!