Pinapple Upside Down Muffins

Fresh Pineapple is so delicious and much better than that from a can.  After my kids had descended upon my poor pineapple like vultures I managed to save some for muffins.  Everyone in my family loves Pineapple Upside Down Cake, and these are a miniature version that is a great substitute unbelievably easy to make.  You can use canned if you don’t have fresh pineapple on hand, but fresh is extra good.

My friend Elizabeth who is also on the food committee for our church’s upcoming Christmas Tea came up with the idea of this treat and I decided to make a simpler version at home (without a caramel sugar glaze).  Next time I make them tough, I will use paper cups to line the muffins, they did not always come up nicely (tin ones would probably be even better)

Pineapple Upside Down Muffins – Serves 12

• 1 Yellow cake mix
• pineapple juice
• water
• eggs
• oil

prepared as indicated on box (but substituting the water for pineapple juice — I used the 6 oz can and added enough water to come to the correct measurement)

• Fresh Pineapple tidbits
• Fresh pitted cherries, sliced in halves

Line the muffin tin with foil cupcake liners.  Place a piece of pineapple in each muffin and add four cherry halves to each.  Pour the prepared cake mix on top, filling 3/4 of the way.  Bake 18-23 minutes at 350F.  (I had more batter left over and saved it for another use.

Place each muffin upside-down on a plate and remove the foil liner. Drizzle with a caramel sauce if desired, or skip that and save a few calories.  It is delicious without any sauce.

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Homemade Brownies

I have been laying in my bed recovering from a back injury that I gave myself falling down the stairs in my home.  As a stay at home mom, I would call that a work related injury but it does not work that way!  No workman’s comp for me!

Well, here I was looking at my iPhone to find signs of life beyond the walls of the bedroom I was recovering in.  I found signs of life on facebook and twitter.  I have been following other cooks and foodies on twitter and frankly by now I was downright hungry.  The craving:  brownies!  Did I have a simple mix that I could just have my kids whip up? NO, of course not!  But that’s okay. Child labor (when brownies are involved) make willing hands to help.

I dug out a recipe book that was published by Family Fun Magazine. The Family Fun Cookbook and made their Chocolate-Lover’s Brownies (pg 194).

Here is my adaptation:

Chocolate Lover’s Brownies

Serves 20 small squares

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 8 oz semisweet chocolate
• 4 oz unsweetened chocolate
• 4 large eggs
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 cups nuts (I used one cup pecans and one cup M&Ms)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Spray a 9x13x2 inch baking pan with pam or a cooking spray
3. In the microwave, melt the butter and chocolate for about 3 minutes or until the mixture is completely melted.  I microwave f or one minute, stir and then heat in 30 second increments until it is melted, stirring after each time to combine.  Allow to cool for about 10 minutes after it is combined and melted.
4. In a bowl, using a mixer on medium high speed combine the eggs and sugar and beat for 3 minutes until the egg mixture is pretty light in color.  After the chocolate mixture has cooled add it to your egg and sugar mixture and combine.
5. Add flour and salt to the mixture and slowly combine.
6. Last minute: throw in your nuts and M&Ms if desired and just stir to combine.
7. Pour into the prepared baking dish and bake for 28-30 minutes.

Allow to cool completely (if they make it that long).  Can be stored in freezer if desired.

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