Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

I grew up with my mother making cornbread and fried potatoes in a cast iron skillet.   Oh they were so good!!  So I decided to purchase a cast iron skillet to add to my collection.   Fried potatoes are the best in a cast iron skillet, but I didn’t stop there.  I went looking for other cast iron skillet recipes.  I found a recipe for a Pineapple Upside Down Cake.  I would like to share with you a recipe that has become a family favorite.

Topping:

1/4 cup butter or margarine
2/3 cup firmly-packed brown sugar
1 (1-pound, 4 ounce) can sliced pineapple
Maraschino Cherries
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a 10-inch cast-iron frying pan or a 9×2-inch cake pan over low heat, melt butter or margarine. Stir in brown sugar until blended. Remove from heat. Drain pineapple, reserving 2 tablespoons syrup. Arrange pineapple slices onto top of sugar mixture. Place a maraschino cherry in center of each slice. Sprinkle with chopped nuts.

Cake:
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, room temperature
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add egg, milk, and vegetable shortening; beat 2 minutes. Add reserved pineapple syrup, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract; beat 2 minutes. Pour over pineapple slices in frying pan, spreading evenly.

Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes on a wire rack. Run knife around edge of pan to loosen; cover with a cake plate and invert. Serve warm.

Makes 8 servings.

You can find more recipes and tips for cooking with cast iron at http://whatscookingamerica.net.

1 pound ground beef
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
8 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juice
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats

Topping:
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon prepared mustard

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Mix all meatloaf ingredients well and place in a baking dish. Shape into a loaf.  Mix ingredients for topping and spread on loaf. Bake for 1 hour.

A friend shared this recipe with me.  It is quick and easy and one that your family will ask for every year.  Enjoy!

1 pkg Rold Gold Tiny Twists pretzels

3 oz pkg foil Rolos (unwrapped)
60 pecan halves

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Line two cookie sheets with foil.  Place 30 pretzels on the first sheet.
Place a Rolo on each pretzel (center each).   Bake for 4 minutes at 250 degrees (or a little less).
Remove from oven and press a pecan half into each Rolo, until it spreads.  Let cool for 15 minutes, and then set in the refrigerator to set up.  Repeat procedure with the second cookie sheet.
Store in a sealed container.
Makes 5 dozen

1 lg. can pineapple chunks drained, (use juice only if needed in mixing)
1 lg. can fruit cocktail, drained
2 sm. cans mandarin oranges, drained
1 pkg. strawberry instant pudding (mix dry from pkg.)

1 (8 oz) package of cream cheese room temperature
1 (9 oz.) Cool Whip
1/2 c. pecans
1/2 c. flaked coconut

Mix first 5 ingredients together well. Add Cool Whip. Pour into deep dish. Sprinkle with coconut and nuts. Makes 8-10 servings.

I will be trying this recipe this coming week.  This just may be the perfect cranberry bread recipe.  Although I have to admit, I don’t care for nuts in bread and will be leaving those out.  I will also be trying this bread with Splenda instead of sugar.

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar

1/2 Tsp. Salt

1 1/2 Tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp. Baking Soda

1 Cup Fresh Cranberries, chopped (sometimes I add 1 ½ Cups)

1/2 Cup Pecans or Walnuts, chopped 1 Egg

2 Tab. Canola or vegetable oil

3/4 Cup Freshly squeezed Orange Juice

Orange zest, minced

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 5 loaf pan. Combine (whisk) the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add the cranberries and pecans and stir to coat with flour mixture. In a medium bowl, mix together the egg, oil, orange juice, and orange zest. Pour this egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until just blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes and then remove to a wire rack and cool completely.

I just developed a taste for Cranberries and have been looking high and low for a Cranberry Bread.  I am not sure this is the perfect recipe, but decided to share it for those who love to cook with Bisquick. 

1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 c. milk
3 c. Bisquick
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 c. cranberries, chopped
3/4 c. nuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, combine brown sugar, egg and milk. With spoon beat in Bisquick, cinnamon and nutmeg until mixture is very thick and almost smooth. Fold in cranberries and nuts. Spoon mixture into well greased loaf pan. Bake 1 hour. Remove from pan, cool, and wrap and store.

3 c. granulated sugar
1 c. vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
1 lb. canned pumpkin
3-1/2 c. flour
2/3 c. water
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. salt (scant)
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. EACH: cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg Mix sugar, oil and eggs together. Add pumpkin. Then add dry ingredient and finally water, stirring just until mixed. Pour batter into two (2) greased and floured 9×5 inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for one (1) hour.

Especially good spread with cream cheese.

I get lots of compliments when I made this pudding.  I hope you will enjoy it this Thanksgiving.

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup all?purpose flour

Dash of salt

4 eggs, separated

2 cups milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

5 to 6 bananas, sliced

35 to 45 Vanilla Wavers

(Reserve 1 banana and 10 to 12 wafers for garnish)

Combine 1/2 cup sugar, flour and salt in top of double boiler. Stir in 4 egg yolks and milk.  Blend well. Cook, uncovered over boiling water, stirring constantly until thickened. Reduce heat, cook, and stir occasionally for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add Vanilla. Spread small amount on bottom of 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Cover with sliced bananas and wafers. Repeat ending with custard.

Beat egg whites until stiff gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Spoon on top of pudding. Cover surface sealing edges. Bake at 435 degrees for 5 minutes or lightly brown. Chill. Before serving, garnish with banana slices and wafers upright around edge of dish. Yield: 8 servings

1 small butternut squash, cubed
2 red bell peppers, seeded and diced
1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
3 Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed
1 red onion, quartered
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).

In a large bowl, combine the squash, red bell peppers, sweet potato, and Yukon Gold potatoes. Separate the red onion quarters into pieces, and add them to the mixture.

In a small bowl, stir together thyme, rosemary, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Toss with vegetables until they are coated. Spread evenly on a large roasting pan.

Roast for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring every 10 minutes, or until vegetables are cooked through and browned.

I love watching The Neely’s on TV.  I knew I would love this recipe as soon as I saw Gina and Pat make it.  I hope you enjoy it with or without my changes.  It was a great side dish!

2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
1/2 Vidalia onion, finely chopped
1 red pepper, seeded and finely chopped
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1/3 cup mayonnaise (I used light mayonnaise)
2 tablespoons orange juice (I added 3 tablespoons of orange juice)
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (I left this out)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper (I used freshly ground salt and black pepper)

Add the sweet potatoes to a large pot of cold salted water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook the potatoes until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and let cool in a colander.

Once the potatoes are cool, transfer to a large serving bowl and add the onion, red pepper, and green onions.

In a separate bowl, add the mayonnaise, orange juice, smoked paprika, cumin and salt and pepper, to taste. Whisk to combine, pour over the potatoes and thoroughly mix. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 1 hour for the flavors to meld.