Sandy's Luncheon 12/05/2013

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CARROT CAKE

This cake is Sandy’s grandmother’s recipe and she

used her grandmother’s cast iron skillet to bake this.

Melt:

6 Tbsp. unsalted butter

¾ cup packed brown sugar

7 rings fresh pineapple, ½ inch thick

(I used canned pineapple) and drained well and then used paper towels

to remove the excess liquid.

7 maraschino cherries

Whisk:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground allspice

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. table salt

Beat:

1 12/ cups granulated sugar

½ cup packed brown sugar

4 eggs

1-cup canola oil

3 cups shredded carrots

1 cup toasted and minced walnuts

Preheat oven to 350˚

Melt butter in a 10 and 1/4 inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat.  Stir in ¾ cup brown sugar; simmer 2 minutes.  Place one pineapple ring in the center of the skillet and remaining rings around edges.  Place a cherry in the hole of each ring.  Whisk together flour, cinnamon, allspice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Beat granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, and eggs with a mixer until thick and creamy.  With the mixer running slowly drizzle in oil, beating until combined.  Stir in carrots and walnuts, and then stir in flour mixture until thoroughly combined.  Pour batter into skillet.  Bake cake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50-60 minutes.  Let cake cool in the skillet 10 minutes, and then turn out onto a serving platter.

A note from Sandy

So the caramel isn’t overcooked, turn off the stove heat when adding the pineapple rings to the top.  Great hint Sandy, thanks!

CREAM CHEESE WHIPPED CREAM

Beat 4 oz. softened cream cheese with a mixer until light and fluffy.  With mixer running, slowly beat in 1 ½ cups heavy cream to desired consistency.  Stir in ¼ cup powdered sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla extract.

The cake and the whipped cream mixture serve 16

So glad that Sandy’s grandmother handed down this recipe for the cake and whipped cream, it was so good. 

Salad

Sandy said to just wing in on the salad, but she did use the last of Judy’s homegrown tomatoes for the salad and the dressing she said was a secret.