Red Kuri Coffee Cake

winter squash are here! this red kuri has a firm, creamy flesh when baked. it tastes equally delicious savory or sweet. all winter squash are loaded with nutrients including potassium, manganese and folate and are particularly high in vitamins A and C. this week you will get three recipes to try out with your squash, two use the baked flesh from the first recipe. enjoy the squash hot out of the oven with a dollop of butter, hidden amongst cinnamon in a coffee cake or on a blustery fall evening as a cup of soup.

1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1/2 cup all purpose unbleached four

1/2 cup palm sugar or organic cane sugar

1 Tbl cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder -aluminum free-

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp fresh ground nutmeg

1/2 stick unsalted butter (4 Tbl) -room temperature/soft

1 egg

1 cup buttermilk

3/4 cup baked kuri squash (or other winter squash)

9 or 10 inch baking dish or bread pan, rubbed with butter

topping: 2/3 cup oats, 1/2 cup whole almonds, 3 Tbl melted butter, 1/4 cup palm sugar --pulse the oats in a blender till they resemble a coarse flour. add the almonds and pulse a few more times until the almonds are in small chunks. (alternatively, chop up the oats and almonds with a sharp knife and add 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour). in a bowl combine the almond/oat mixture, melted butter and sugar and set aside.

preheat oven to 350 degrees. sift flours, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg into a medium bowl pouring back into the bowl any leftover ingredient bits from the sifter. softly mix to incorporate. add the softened butter and mix in with a spatula.

whisk together the egg, squash and buttermilk. again with the spatula (or spoon) gently mix the wet mixture with the dry mixture until just combined. pour into the buttered baking dish and sprinkle with the reserved topping. place on a middle rack in the oven. bake 45 minutes to 1 hour until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. serve your coffee cake warm with a cup of... coffee! hot tea or cold milk tastes pretty nice as well.