pineapple upsidedown cake

A seventies special today.  I had a pineapple that was starting to look a bit past its best so pineapple upsidedown cake it is.  Haven't had this for absolutely years and never made it before.

for the pineapple top/bottom
4 thick slices of pineapple
50g light brown sugar
50g butter
glacé cherries

Cream together the butter and sugar and spread over the bottom of a 20cm square lined tin.  Arrange the pineapple in a pretty pattern then put cherries in the centre of the rings and dot some round.  Try not to eat too many cherries!

for the cakey bottom/top
150g stork for cakes
150g self raising flour
150g caster sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
3 tbsp of some liquid*

* use the syrup out of the tin if using tinned pineapple, or honey, or (as I did today) some toffee ice cream sauce left over from the banoffi cupcakes.

Cream together the margarine and sugar.  Beat in the eggs, then the flour, baking powder and liquid.  Pour over the pineapple and bake for about 40minutes at 160c.  Leave to cool in the tin for about 10 minutes to let the syrup set a bit then flip it over and get out the flares.

Easypeasy

chocolate ginger brownies

Got some eggs that needed using up pronto so decided to give brownies a go.  I only put 50g of the ginger in but next time I think I would increase this as it wasn't gingery enough for my taste.



185g unsalted butter
100g dark chocolate
85g plain flour
60g cocoa powder
50g stem ginger
3 large eggs
275g dark muscovado sugar



Pre-heat the oven to 170c. Grease and line a 20cm square deep baking tray.

Melt the chocolate and butter over a low heat in a bain marie.  Leave to cool

Beat the eggs up until thick, creamy and light then beat in the sugar.  Gently stir in the cooled butter and chocolate mixture.  Sift in the flour and cocoa powder taking care not to knock the air out.

Turn into the baking tray and cook for 35-40 minutes

Leave to cool and cut into 16 pieces.  Don't worry that the pieces are small as you really don't need to eat too much of this in one go.  Even I, a hardened cake-eater, couldn't manage more than a couple of chunks at a time!

Feed to hungry office people with tea

Someone did suggest that it might be nice with walnuts or almonds and cherries in.  Not so sure about the walnuts as they are always a bit of a disappointment.  They look so nice but always taste a bit musty.  Might try the almonds and cherries next time though.