Any Home Bakers Here?

[ShrekDawg]

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Here is one of my favorite upside down cake recipes, which I adapted to my tastes.

View attachment 3696398
(Not my photo)

My Pineapple Upside Down Cake:

INGREDIENTS​

FOR THE TOPPING:​

• Cooking spray
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 (8-ounce) can pineapple rings in pineapple juice
• 8 to 10 maraschino cherries

FOR THE CAKE:​

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons of cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice (from the can of pineapple rings)
• 2 large eggs

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat the oven and prepare the pan. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350°F. Coat a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray; set aside.
2. Melt the butter and sugar for the topping. Melt the butter and sugar in a small frying pan over medium heat, stirring frequently. The mixture is done when the sugar is bubbly and slightly more brown.
3. Pour the sugar mixture into the baking pan. Pour the sugar mixture into a prepared cake pan and spread into an even layer to cool slightly.
4. Arrange the pineapple slices and cherries in the cake pan. Remove the pineapple rings from the can and reserve 1/2 cup of the juice. Set a single ring in the center of the pan, then arrange 6 to 7 rings around the center ring. Place a maraschino cherry in the center of each ring and set the pan aside.
5. Whisk together the dry cake ingredients. Whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.
6. Cream the sugar and butter together with a hand mixer, then add the eggs. Place the sugar and butter in a large bowl. Using an electric hand mixer, beat on medium speed until lightened and creamy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until smooth, about 1 minute more.
7. Add the flour mixture and pineapple juice in alternating batches. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the reserved 1/2 cup pineapple juice, in this order: Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Add 1/2 of the pineapple juice, mixing until smooth, about 30 seconds. Add another 1/2 of the remaining flour and mix again for about 30 seconds, followed by the remaining pineapple juice and 30 seconds of mixing. Finally, add the remaining flour mixture and mix until completely smooth, about 1 minute total.
8. Spread the batter over the fruit. The batter will be thick, so use a large spoon to dollop large spoonfuls of the batter evenly over the fruit in the pan. Smooth the batter with a spatula, then tap the cake pan lightly on the counter to settle the batter.
9. Bake the cake for 45 minutes. Bake the cake until dark golden-brown and a cake tester comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
10. Cool the cake for 10 minutes and then invert the cake onto a serving plate. Remove the warm cake from the oven to a cooling rack and cool for 10 minutes (do not wait longer or the cake will not come out of the pan). Invert a plate over the cake pan and, using kitchen towels or oven mitts to grasp onto both the plate and the cake pan, flip both the pan and the plate over so the pan now sits on top of the plate. Slowly lift the cake pan away. Serve the cake warm or cool before serving and storing.

That is so beautiful!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I need to get something off my chest.

Dementia is very hard to watch when it shows up in the family. It really unsettles me. My grandfather forgot Christmas is coming up when someone asked him how he was preparing for the holidays. He simply responded “what holiday?”

He even forgot what month it was.

He is really deteriorating, and it is really unsettling me. I know there is not much I can do about this issue, but I don’t know what to do for myself to help me feel better emotionally.

Maybe I’ll bake something. I don’t know.

That’s all, I just needed to get that off my chest.

Jared, thank you so much for sharing. It is indeed very hard to watch our loved ones deteriorate, both physically and mentally. Especially those we have looked up to, those we have always seen as strong. It almost feels like a betrayal, and we may even feel some anger, even though we know they can't help it. It may be helpful to talk to your clergyman about it, to help you deal with your feelings, or your therapist if you have one. Also, I know your faith is strong. It may help you to remember that this phase is not forever. We have a hope, a future to look forward to, when our loved ones will be restored. Look forward to that and meantime, be patient with your grandfather. Remember he was patient with you when you were a child and now it's your turn to return the favor. Blessings to you, Jared.

 

[CedarLane]

I need to get something off my chest.

Dementia is very hard to watch when it shows up in the family. It really unsettles me. My grandfather forgot Christmas is coming up when someone asked him how he was preparing for the holidays. He simply responded “what holiday?”

He even forgot what month it was.

He is really deteriorating, and it is really unsettling me. I know there is not much I can do about this issue, but I don’t know what to do for myself to help me feel better emotionally.

Maybe I’ll bake something. I don’t know.

That’s all, I just needed to get that off my chest.

It's hard. We walked that road with my dad. He passed away 3 years ago.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It's hard. We walked that road with my dad. He passed away 3 years ago.

 

[MotherofOrpies]

We are going through the same process right now with my mother in law, maybe it will help you to remember , when you were little, they were always there for you, now they need our help, and you are able to give back . That’s the way I see it, and in a way I´m grateful, becos when you were young, they did such a lot of stuff for you, and now you are able to help them. Of course it is disturbing for you, but even more for them, they know something is wrong, but don’t know what, what really helps them is the past, that memory is the last one to go, so play music they heard when they were young, cook/bake compfort food, just listen, even if they are rambeling, don’t interrupt them , they will be grateful somebody is giving them „respect“ and not treating them like a child…

 

[pennyJo1960]

We went through dementia with my Stepdad and later with Ma.
The Grandma I spent my first 8 years with went through it also.'
Jared remember how he was. Helps deal with it now.

 

[The Welch Chickens]

Here is what I made today: (Not my photos)

Nut-Free Snowball Cookies​

A delicious buttery, sugar covered 'cookie' that looks like a mini snowball!

Prep Time- 45 minutes
Cook Time- 11 minutes
Total Time- 1 hour

Ingredients​

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• more powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions​

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• Mix butter with 1/2 cup powdered sugar and vanilla with electric mixer until fluffy.
• Add flour and salt until dough comes together.
• If dough is too soft, chill it so it can be worked with your hands.
• Scoop 1-2 tbsp balls of dough onto cookie sheet.
• Bake 9-12 minutes until bottoms are just slightly brown.
• Remove from oven and let cool several minutes.
• Fill small bowl with powdered sugar.
• While still warm, roll each cookie ball until covered with powdered sugar.
• Place on rack to cool.
• Roll again in powdered sugar if required

(Recipe is from https://www.settingforfour.com )

 

[ronott1]

Here is one of my favorite upside down cake recipes, which I adapted to my tastes.

View attachment 3696398
(Not my photo)

My Pineapple Upside Down Cake:

INGREDIENTS​

FOR THE TOPPING:​

• Cooking spray
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 (8-ounce) can pineapple rings in pineapple juice
• 8 to 10 maraschino cherries

FOR THE CAKE:​

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons of cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice (from the can of pineapple rings)
• 2 large eggs

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat the oven and prepare the pan. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350°F. Coat a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray; set aside.
2. Melt the butter and sugar for the topping. Melt the butter and sugar in a small frying pan over medium heat, stirring frequently. The mixture is done when the sugar is bubbly and slightly more brown.
3. Pour the sugar mixture into the baking pan. Pour the sugar mixture into a prepared cake pan and spread into an even layer to cool slightly.
4. Arrange the pineapple slices and cherries in the cake pan. Remove the pineapple rings from the can and reserve 1/2 cup of the juice. Set a single ring in the center of the pan, then arrange 6 to 7 rings around the center ring. Place a maraschino cherry in the center of each ring and set the pan aside.
5. Whisk together the dry cake ingredients. Whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.
6. Cream the sugar and butter together with a hand mixer, then add the eggs. Place the sugar and butter in a large bowl. Using an electric hand mixer, beat on medium speed until lightened and creamy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until smooth, about 1 minute more.
7. Add the flour mixture and pineapple juice in alternating batches. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the reserved 1/2 cup pineapple juice, in this order: Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Add 1/2 of the pineapple juice, mixing until smooth, about 30 seconds. Add another 1/2 of the remaining flour and mix again for about 30 seconds, followed by the remaining pineapple juice and 30 seconds of mixing. Finally, add the remaining flour mixture and mix until completely smooth, about 1 minute total.
8. Spread the batter over the fruit. The batter will be thick, so use a large spoon to dollop large spoonfuls of the batter evenly over the fruit in the pan. Smooth the batter with a spatula, then tap the cake pan lightly on the counter to settle the batter.
9. Bake the cake for 45 minutes. Bake the cake until dark golden-brown and a cake tester comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
10. Cool the cake for 10 minutes and then invert the cake onto a serving plate. Remove the warm cake from the oven to a cooling rack and cool for 10 minutes (do not wait longer or the cake will not come out of the pan). Invert a plate over the cake pan and, using kitchen towels or oven mitts to grasp onto both the plate and the cake pan, flip both the pan and the plate over so the pan now sits on top of the plate. Slowly lift the cake pan away. Serve the cake warm or cool before serving and storing.

Thanks for the recipe!

 

[ronott1]

Here is what I made today: (Not my photos)
View attachment 3697841
View attachment 3697842

Nut-Free Snowball Cookies​

A delicious buttery, sugar covered 'cookie' that looks like a mini snowball!

Prep Time- 45 minutes
Cook Time- 11 minutes
Total Time- 1 hour

Ingredients​

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• more powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions​

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• Mix butter with 1/2 cup powdered sugar and vanilla with electric mixer until fluffy.
• Add flour and salt until dough comes together.
• If dough is too soft, chill it so it can be worked with your hands.
• Scoop 1-2 tbsp balls of dough onto cookie sheet.
• Bake 9-12 minutes until bottoms are just slightly brown.
• Remove from oven and let cool several minutes.
• Fill small bowl with powdered sugar.
• While still warm, roll each cookie ball until covered with powdered sugar.
• Place on rack to cool.
• Roll again in powdered sugar if required

(Recipe is from https://www.settingforfour.com )

Thanks for the Recipe!