Lemon Rosemary Coffee Cake

Ingredients

• 3 large lemons
• 2 cups unbleached, all purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 stick of butter, cubed then frozen
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg, slightly beaten
• 2 tsp. rosemary, chopped
• 10 oz. lemon curd, stirred until smooth
• powdered sugar, slices of lemon, and fresh rosemary for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper, then spray lightly with non-stick spray. Grate the zest from the lemons to produce 1 tablespoon-full.
2. Squeeze the lemons to produce 5 tbsp. of juice. In a food processor bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Combine the ingredients and pulse a few times. Next, add the frozen butter and pulse until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup of the flour mixture.
3. Place the remaining flour mixture in a bowl and add the baking powder and baking soda. Combine thoroughly. Add the buttermilk, egg, and 1/4 cup of the lemon juice. Beat until combined, and then add the chopped rosemary.
4. Spoon half the mixture into the pan. Layer the lemon curd on top of the cake batter in the pan and then top it with the remaining batter.
5. In a smaller bowl, combine the lemon zest, remaining cup of flour mixture, and the last of the lemon juice — sprinkle all over the cake batter.
6. Bake for about 45 – 50 minutes, remove, and let cool. Remove from the pan and place on a serving dish. Garnish with powdered sugar, lemon slices, and fresh rosemary.

Growing Rosemary in a Pot

• Rosemary can be grown year round in our area, but protect it from a hard freeze.
• Choose a pot that will provide excellent drainage and that you can easily move.
• Put broken ceramic shards in the pot’s bottom to keep the draining hole clear.
• Place the pot where there is plenty of sunlight and ready access to water.
• When to water? A reliable old-fashioned way to check for potting soil that is too dry or too wet: Sharpen a classic Number 2 Pencil and push it down as far as possible into the pot. If any bits of soil cling to the pencil when you pull it out of the pot, Do Not Water! There’s moisture down there! Thanks to our old friend Seth!!!
• Use an excellent growing medium such as Arbor Gate Organic Soil Complete and fertilize periodically with Arbor Gate Organic Food Complete.
• 

  Sprigs of fresh green rosemary on a wooden cutting board on a dark concrete background

  Cut well-developed leaves often for cooking and to promote continual growth.