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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Clarksville

Weird things you can learn during an interview

My column last Sunday told the story of Joanne Martin, a Medical Lake woman who received a 10-cent check as her settlement from a huge class-action lawsuit against mega-wireless carrier Sprint.

Sure. That predicament was entertaining.

But some readers were more intrigued by my affection for the killer coffeecake that Joanne served me as we sat around her cozy kitchen table.

How is this made? What’s the recipe?

Is it legal to transport across state lines?

Yes, this is no ordinary coffeecake. This is one of the 415 “tested and approved” recipes that can be found in the Fisher’s Blend Baking Book, the 1944 edition.

But don’t let a little thing like an archaic outmoded old book stop you. Not while I’m around to help.

So put on an apron and channel your inner Martha Stewart as we prepare a batch of …

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QUICK COFFEECAKE…

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2 cups Fisher’s* blend flour.

(*CLARKSVILLE NOTE: Although this product apparently isn’t made any more, Joanne informs me that Gold Medal will do fine. Or just grind the damn wheat yourself.)

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2 teaspoons baking powder.

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup sugar.

2 to 3 teaspoons cinnamon.

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Blend dry ingredients together.

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(In a separate bowl:)

Mix 3/4 cups milk

1 egg well-beaten.

4 tablespoons melted butter.

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Mix wet and dry ingredients together.

Put mixture in pan eight inches square.

Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on top, with dots of butter.

(Really. The recipe said “dots.”)

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Bake at 400 for 15 to 20 minutes.

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Remove. Slice. Gorge to your heart’s content.

Then make another.

And another.

And…

Thank you Fisher’s Blend Baking Book, 1944 edition. Now you can see why we kicked Hitler’s ass and saved the WORLD!

Sorry - we listed the wrong amount on the milk in the initial blog post - Joanne called and set us straight. It should be 3/4 cup milk (the recipe has been corrected). 



Doug Clark
Doug Clark joined The Spokesman-Review in 1982. He is a columnist whose columns appear on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.