Birthday Surprise!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

     I think that I need to rename this blog, "Busy Life of a Cooking Wife!"  I have not posted in a while, and I decided that today on my off day I would get back into my blogging.  I have a few meals that are ready to be blogged about! First up, is pineapple upside down cake!  March is a particularly good birthday month.  Mr. Bloom's birthday is in March, as well as my mother-in-law's.  About two months ago, I had mentioned to her about the different things that I was making.  She said that I should make a pineapple upside down cake.  I committed her comment to memory, and decided I would make one for her birthday. It is actually one of my favorite cakes.  I have always made them from the box, but had never attempted one from scratch.  I was excited to see how this would come out.  I used a recipe book that my in-laws gave to me for my birthday last year.  It is from Better Homes and Gardens, New Cook Book: Celebrating the Promise. 

INGREDIENTS

- 2 tablespoons butter

- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

- 1 tablespoon water

- 1 8oz can pineapple slices, drained and halved

- 4 maraschino cherries, halved

- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

- 2/3 cup granulated sugar

- 2 teaspoons baking powder

- 2/3 cup milk

- 1/4 cup butter, softened

- 1 egg

- 1 teaspoon vanilla

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Place the 2 tablespoons butter in a 9 inch round cake pan.  Place pan in oven until butter melts.  Stir in brown sugar and water.

• Arrange pineapple in cherries in a pan.  Set aside.

• In a medium mixing bowl, stir together flour, granulated sugar, and baking powder.

• Add milk, 1/4 cup butter, the egg and vanilla.

• Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined.  Beat on medium speed 1 minute. 

• Spoon batter into prepared pan. 
• Bake 30-35 minutes or until wooden toothpick  inserted in center comes out clean.  

Love the golden color!

• Cool on a wire rack 5 minutes.  

• Loosen sides of cake; invert onto plate.  Cool 30 minutes.  

     I would recommend not cutting the last pineapple slice in half, because mine separated in the middle.  I wasn't aware of how I was going to place them before I halved all of them.  I was kind of nervous that I couldn't taste it before I fed it to people.  So, I was hoping that it was done and tasted great. 

     I surprised my MIL with the cake and had no complaints on the taste!  Mother-in-laws get a lot of bad press, but there ARE great ones out there.  And I am glad I am one of the lucky ones. : ) . 

     I know you may be wondering what kind of cake Mr. Bloom requested for his birthday.  The answer would be, Pecan Upside Down Cake! He said it's his favorite cake that I have made so far.  He did have one complaint... That one wasn't enough! So, the birthday boy got TWO pecan upside down cakes. We did have family over and they helped eat them.  So, I am sure he will be requesting another soon!   

With that, Enjoy!