Post a favorite easy recipe.

[abqtommy]

78. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake... remember, cooking is art but baking is science.

1. Assemble ingredients: stick butter, brown sugar, pineapple slices and a yellow cake mix. (See #4 for
optional maraschino cherries.) I always used Duncan Hines but suit your own bad self. Have whatever
the cake mix calls for on hand.

2. Get your act together by putting out your 9x13 inch cake pan and get your mixer ready to go. Cake
batter can be mixed by hand if necessary.

3. In a small saucepan combine 3/4 cup of butter (a little less than one stick) and 3/4 cup brown
sugar firmly packed. Heat that up on medium heat, stirring occasionally. After everything has combined
to your satisfaction carefully pour it into your cake pan that you have placed on a level, heat
resistant surface. Don't forget to lick the spoon. YUM!

4. Drain your can of pineapple slices and lay slices on top of the butter/brown sugar mixture. It's
perfectly ok to cut some slices into halves or quarters to fill in empty spaces. As an option I
used to place half a maraschino cherry in the center of each pineapple slice or wherever you like.
Be sure to add the maraschino cherries to the ingredients list if you opt for this. It really
makes for a colorful presentation. (yummy too)

5. Turn your oven to 350 degrees to pre-heat, with the rack in the center position. Get your cake batter
ready then pour the batter into the cake pan on top of what's already there. Slip the cake pan into the
oven and allow some extra time since the whole mix will be a little wet. While you're waiting for the
cake to bake you can lick the bowl and beaters/spoon you used for the cake mix. My Mom taught
me to do to do this when I was just learning and she was never wrong about anything.

6. Test the cake when you think it's ready by gently pressing on the cake with a finger or two, or stick a
toothpick into the cake and if it comes out clean the cake is done/ready. Set the cake in the pan on
the stovetop or cooling rack for awhile. Then comes the moment of truth. Place a cookie pan or
cutting board carefully over the top of yoiur cake pan and pick it up. With a rapid but fluid motion
invert the cake pan and voila! Pineapple upside-down cake all ready for gobbling up with your favorite
dessert side like vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!