Pineapple Upside Down cake...

Every Super Bowl Sunday, I make a Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. I have no idea how this tradition began for me. As I recall, I was bored one Sunday and decided to bake a cake. It happened to be on Super Bowl Sunday. I'm estimating the year to be between 1995 and 1999, and the Pineapple Upside Down Cake tradition began. Every game since then I have baked this cake. This cake was baked in the cast iron skillet that my grandma gave to me in the late 1980's. It was one of her favorite skillets, and now it is definitely my favorite cooking vessel. If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, a regular cake pan can be substituted. Back in the day, I had made the cake from scratch, but I've had better success with the boxed cake mix. I have no idea where the recipe originally came from so I cannot give credit to the creator. Enjoy! 

Pineapple Upside-down Cake 

           

Topping:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 (20 oz) can pineapple slices, drained, reserve juice

Maraschino cherries, drained and halved *or whole

Cake:

1 pkg Pineapple Cake Mix (yellow cake mix can be substituted, but not as tasty)

3 large eggs

1  1/3 cup water *see notes

1/3 cup oil

Baking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. For topping, melt butter over low heat in 12-inch cast-iron skillet or skillet with oven-proof handle. (or sub a cake pan.) Sprinkle brown sugar evenly in pan. Arrange pineapple slices on brown sugar. Place maraschino cherry halves, cut side up, in center of pineapple slices. (I use whole cherries; add a few extra's if you like.)

3. For cake, combine cake mix, eggs, water *see notes and oil in large mixing bowl. Beat at low speed  until moistened (about 30 seconds or so). Pour batter (carefully) evenly over fruit in skillet.

4. Bake at 350 ºF for 43-48 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in pan.  Invert onto heat resistant serving plate. 

NOTES: substitute part of the water with pineapple juice.*I sometimes don’t do this because I always forget and just drink the juice!

Ball boy...

My son Matt, in grade 6, was selected to be a ball boy at our local High School for the boys’ varsity game. It was a wonderful opportunity for Matt. He was a bit shy at first but he found his niche. I was very proud of Matt. My family enjoyed watching the game. My daughter Kristen clapped and cheered. She clapped so much her hands were bright red! Kristen LOVES watching sports. It was a wonderful family evening. 

Yahtzee...

My Aunt invited my family over to her home for dinner and visiting. The dinner was fabulous! It was husband Jim and son Matt’s favorite meal, meatloaf. One can't go wrong with comfort foods. After dinner we played Yahtzee. Three of us scored Yahtzee, one of us did not. I’ll not mention any names, but I will include a photo. 

My kids visiting…

This is beautiful Kira, and silly Daniel, lol.
I love Dan’s humor. 

My son Dan and my daughter Kira came to visit Kansas! Dan and his wife (who could not make this trip) live in England. My daughter Kira lives in Delaware. Their father Gene, along with Jim and I, hosted a small get together for Dan and Kira at a local hotel. We all played lots of games. The hotel atrium had a large game area with several activities. We also did lots of visiting. It was a very enjoyable evening. 

Here is my husband Jim playing  pool.

It is only by coincidence that they are both here during our family cancer crisis. The kids visits to Kansas were each planned well before we had any idea that there was something wrong with their step-father Jim. I am thankful for the timing of their visits. It has been so nice to see them and visit with them. It is a welcome distraction. It has been a blessing that they can help with my younger children. Kira will have to leave in a few days. Dan will be here for the rest of January. Sometimes I wish that they lived closer, but they both love their lives where they are so I wouldn't change a thing. We love it when they are able to come and visit. :)

Alone...

Well, today we received some news. They had thought that my husband, Jim, had pneumonia for the last several weeks. But it turns out he does not. There is an unexplained mass on his left lung. One of the bronchial tubes has become blocked but they do not know why.

The doctor has scheduled an exploration into Jim’s lung on Thursday (17Jan2013). They will try to look at the blockage, and take some sample tissue for testing. The best case scenario is some type of infection that can be treated and will go away. The second scenario is that it is some kind of growth or tumor. They would then evaluate the next step. The third scenario is that it is some type of cancer. No plan of action for this worst case option was discussed at today’s appointment.

Although Jim is a non-smoker for 25 years now, the doctor stated that sometimes non-smokers can develop this cancer anyway. Jim has also been exposed (in addition to his own smoking for 10 years) to second hand smoke from his parent when he was a child, and from his ex-wife while they were married. How frustrating that secondhand smoke can so easily be avoided, yet people selfishly expose others to their dangerous habits. The doctor spent a lot of time talking about secondhand smoke. 

We have to deal with how and when to tell the children; not only our younger children at home, but our adult children as well. Jim’s elder daughter has not talked to Jim in nearly two years because of her own created issues. Jim wished he could have a relationship with her, but she refuses to take ownership of her own choices. Jim’s second daughter is very close with Jim, but Jim shouldn't come between the sisters. Jim’s step-son and step-daughter (my kids) are very supportive of Jim. Jim hasn't spoken to his own siblings or mother in nearly five years. They had a huge falling out and Jim was devastated by their betrayal to him. I have very little family, and my kids and I are rarely on even ground with them. Most of my extended family have issues of their own that they are dealing with. I do have a cousin that I often rely on, but she is already providing a lot of emotional support to others right now.

I am not sure how I am feeling right now. I’m a bit scared. I’m worried. I’m confused. I’m a bit overwhelmed. I don’t like seeing other people have to go through medical procedures and the physical and mental stress that goes with those procedures. I’m concerned for Jim, of course. He must be reeling from all the information that was just thrown at him (us). Jim is not really the “sharing” type of guy, so he has not expressed his concerns to me yet.

I often reach out to my Facebook friends when I am worried and concerned. My Facebook friends are my system of support. Jim has asked me not to post on Facebook yet because he doesn't want certain people to find out that he may be sick. Jim does not like fake concern from people that normally would not give a hoot about him. So here I sit at my keyboard… wondering if I should post this blog or not. If you are one of my (or Jim’s) Facebook friends, please do not publicly share this information on Facebook. Please do not share this blog with people you know Jim would not want to know. 

I guess for me, the emotion that I feel the most right now is… alone. I feel very alone.