Kitchen Meets Culinary Clutz

 Oh my goodness, this blog post has been sitting in my draft folder since Easter! I'm not sure how I managed to overlook it, but here it is, enjoy!

 

Our guests have left for home and dishes are being washed. It was a lovely day, even though the sky was overcast. The rain held off long enough for the children to race through the yard to hunt for the brightly colored Easter eggs.

For dessert I prepared a lovely little Pineapple Upside Down Cake. I had run out of Pineapple rings and learned that KtBug had eaten all my maraschino cherries so... I had to improvise. Crushed Pineapple and cherries picked out of two cans of Fruit Cocktail saved the day for this scrumptious recipe!






1/4 butter or margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 can (8 1/2 ounces) sliced or crushed pineapple, drained
7 maraschino cherries
6 pecan halves (optional)
Dinette Cake batter (below)

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt butter over low heat in round layer pan, 9x1 1/2 inches.
Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over butter.
Place pineapple slice in center of pan. Cut remaining slices in half; arrange halves, cut sides out around pineapple ring in pan.
Places cherries in pineapple slices; arrange pecans around center ring.

Prepare Dinette cake batter (Recipe below). Pour evenly over fruit in pan.

Bake 35-45 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Invert onto plate. Leave pan over cake a few minutes. Serve warm and, if desired, with whipped cream.

9 Servings


A tender golden cake for small families.

1 1/2 Softasilk Cake Flour or 1 1/4 cups Gold Medal Flour*
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup shortening
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. 
Grease and flour square pan, 8x8x2 or 9x9x2 inches.
Measure all ingredients into large mixer bowl. 
Blend 1/2 minute on low speed, scraping bowl occasionally.  Pour into pan.
Bake 35 - 40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool.

 *If using Self-Rising Flour, omit baking powder and salt. 

Recipe Source: Betty Crocker's Cookbook, 1969.

It was a two pill moment but I can deal with taking just one. I'm disappointed with myself for even taking the painkiller, but I was desperate to lower my pain level and eager to salvage what was left of any sleep time.

I hopped into the shower and let the hot water pitter-pat against my swollen back. While seated in the shower I worked on kneading the pain out of my legs.

It's been a long while since I've blogged. Surgery was on April 23rd. I spent a week in the hospital. I only experienced one traumatic event while in the care of the nursing staff. Mistreatment by a nurse left emotional scars that will take some time to heal. She was fired. Enough about that topic..



The rest of my hospital stay was nice. I was taken care of. The staff made me feel like a princess.

At home I'm working hard to rehabilitate my back and legs. I have good days and bad days. On the good days I take advantage of getting out to enjoy the sunny weather. I'm not allowed to drive so its a treat when I get to join my husband for an errand, lunch, or a visit to the zoo. Sometimes I think it's more of a burden than anything because I can handle only so much time on my feet before I become fatigued and experience discomfort in my legs and back.

My husband and kids have been very supportive in my trek to healing. It's rough when I can't lift a gallon of milk without pain, even more rough when I can't bend down to pick up a napkin I've dropped.



I really anticipate the day when I will have the strength to return to the kitchen, tend to my garden & flock of chickens, and enjoy time with my family without the annoyance of pain and discomfort.

Thank you for all your prayers and support!

Love to all,