Sour Cream Coffee Cake

2 cups sugar
1 cups butter/margarine, softened
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 & 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup finely chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease bunt pan or two loaf pans.  In large bowl beat together sugar, butter/margarine, eggs and vanilla for two minutes.  In seperate bowl mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Add dry ingredients and sour cream alternatively to the wet ingredients.  In a small bowl, prepare filling: mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts (optional).  Spread about 1/3 of batter into pans/pans, sprinkle each with 1/3 of filling; repeat twice. Bake for approx. 1 hour, or until wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.  Cool slightly and remove from pan/pans to cool.  Excellent eaten warm, and even better the day after!