The Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake pairs beautifully with Emily St. John Mandel's novel "The Glass Hotel," and a delightful mimosa. The tartness and sweetness of the coffee cake complement the intriguing and reflective nature of the book, providing a thoughtful backdrop for the story's exploration of choices and consequence. The mimosa adds an elegant touch to your book club gathering or a personal reading session, balancing the cake's indulgence with its refreshing citrus notes.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
For the Streusel Topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Lemon Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch round or square baking pan and set aside.
Prepare the Streusel Topping:
- In a small bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
Make the Cake Batter:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Stir in the vanilla extract and lemon zest.
Add the Dry Ingredients and Sour Cream:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the sour cream and lemon juice.
- Begin and end with the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Be careful not to overmix.
Fold in the Blueberries:
- Gently fold the blueberries into the batter, being careful not to crush them.
Assemble the Coffee Cake:
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the top of the batter.
Bake the Cake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan on a wire rack.
Prepare the Lemon Glaze:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled coffee cake.
Garnish and Serve:
- If desired, sprinkle additional lemon zest over the top for extra flavor and decoration.
- Slice and serve.
The Glass Hotel
A captivating narrative intersecting with financial fraud, exploring the emotional landscapes of choices and consequences across intertwined lives.
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the bestselling author of Station Eleven and Sea of Tranquility, an exhilarating novel set at the glittering intersection of two seemingly disparate events—the exposure of a massive criminal enterprise and the mysterious disappearance of a woman from a ship at sea. “The perfect novel … Freshly mysterious.” —The Washington Post Vincent is a bartender at the Hotel Caiette, a five-star lodging on the northernmost tip of Vancouver Island. On the night she meets Jonathan Alkaitis, a hooded figure scrawls a message on the lobby's glass wall: Why don’t you swallow broken glass. High above Manhattan, a greater crime is committed: Alkaitis's billion-dollar business is really nothing more than a game of smoke and mirrors. When his scheme collapses, it obliterates countless fortunes and devastates lives. Vincent, who had been posing as Jonathan’s wife, walks away into the night. Years later, a victim of the fraud is hired to investigate a strange occurrence: a woman has seemingly vanished from the deck of a container ship between ports of call. In this captivating story of crisis and survival, Emily St. John Mandel takes readers through often hidden landscapes: campgrounds for the near-homeless, underground electronica clubs, service in luxury hotels, and life in a federal prison. Rife with unexpected beauty, The Glass Hotel is a captivating portrait of greed and guilt, love and delusion, ghosts and unintended consequences, and the infinite ways we search for meaning in our lives. Look for Emily St. John Mandel’s bestselling new novel, Sea of Tranquility!
Discussion Questions
- How does Emily St. John Mandel use setting to enhance the story's tension?
- Discuss the parallels between the novel's characters and the relationships they form.
- How does the theme of financial fraud reflect on societal issues?
- What role does isolation play in the development of the story?
- Examine the significance of the novel's title. How does it relate to the story's themes?
- How do the characters' past choices impact their present circumstances?
- Discuss the portrayal of morality and ethics in the narrative.
- How does Emily St. John Mandel weave elements of suspense into the storyline?
- What does the novel suggest about the nature of reality and illusion?
- How do the characters cope with the outcomes of their decisions?
Authors:
Emily St. John Mandel
ISBN: 0525521143
Publisher: Vintage
Published Date: 2020-03-24
Classic Mimosa
A sparkling blend of champagne and orange juice, the mimosa is a classic brunch cocktail that adds a touch of elegance and refreshment to any occasion.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle of chilled champagne or sparkling wine
- 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice
- Orange slices (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Fill half of each champagne flute with fresh orange juice.
- Top with champagne or sparkling wine.
- Garnish with an orange slice if desired.
- Serve immediately.
- Enjoy the refreshing flavors alongside your Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake and delve into 'The Glass Hotel'.