FRESH PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

FRESH PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Preheat your oven to 350 and cut a parchment paper liner for the bottom of a 9" round cake pan. Spray the pan and parchment paper with a light coating of cooking spray. The parchment paper is not absolutely necessary, but it helps if you have a "sticking" issue with the sweet pineapple glaze (you can use waxed paper in a pinch).

5 tablespoons of melted butter
2/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
3 cups fresh pineapple cut into 1" cubes (see note)
maraschino cherries cut in half
1 & 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 & 1 /2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
2/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup pineapple juice (or milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon butter extract
1/2 cup pecans chopped medium-small

Mix melted butter with brown sugar and spread evenly in prepared 9" round cake pan. Set aside.

Cut pineapple into 1" chunks and blot them dry between several thicknesses of paper towel (press on them a little to extract excess juice).

For the batter, cream the butter and sugar until it is really fluffy. Under-beating the butter at this stage will give you a poor quality cake. When it is nice and fluffy, add the eggs (one at a time) and extracts and beat until its fluffy again.

Sift the flour, baking powder and cinnamon into a bowl. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in three parts, alternately with the pineapple juice (or milk) starting and ending with the flour. Set aside.

Assembly: Nestle the pineapple, pecans and cherry pieces down into the brown sugar mixture in the cake pan (arrange in pretty fashion because this will show). Pour the cake batter over the top and very gently spread it out.

Bake in 350 oven for 45 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick tests clean (my oven took exactly 45 minutes). Remove from oven and sit pan on a cooling rack for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, run a thin bladed knife around the edge of the cake and invert onto a serving plate. Serve cake warm or at room temperature.

NOTE: I cut the pineapple into very small pieces (almost a dice) and arrange the cherries randomly over the cake. If you use this diced pineapple style, it only takes two cups of diced fruit instead of three.

Tina's No Bake Cookies

My aunt used to make these when I was a kid. I've been looking for the recipe forever!!! Thank you to my friend Tina for posting it.

No Bake Cookies
2 1/2 Cups sugar
1/2 Cups milk
5 Tablespoons Cocoa
5 Tablespoons butter

Bring to boil and boil 1 minute, remove from heat and add:
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Cup peanut butter
dash of salt
3 1/2 Cups of oatmeal
Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper, let set up

Bacon Blue Cheese Potato Salad

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 lbs red potatoes, cut into eighths
• 5 slices bacon
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 3 ounces blue cheese, crumbled ( about 3/4 cup)

Directions

1. Boil potatoes until tender.
2. Cook bacon until crisp, and cut into one inch pieces.
3. In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, salt and pepper.
4. Fold in green onions, cheese, potatoes and bacon.
5. Can be served immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 (189 g)

Servings Per Recipe: 6

Amount Per Serving

% Daily Value

Calories 311.8

Calories from Fat 142

45%

Amount Per Serving

% Daily Value

Total Fat 15.8g

24%

Saturated Fat 5.7g

28%

Cholesterol 25.2mg

8%

Sugars 4.3 g

Sodium 630.0mg

26%

Total Carbohydrate 36.2g

12%

Dietary Fiber 3.5g

14%

Sugars 4.3 g

17%

Protein 7.9g

15%

Sour Cream Potato Salad

• 2 1/2 pounds red potatoes, cubed
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 bunch green onions, chopped
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 tablespoon real bacon bits

Directions

1. Place the potatoes into a pot, and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 10 minutes, or until easily pierced with a fork. Drain, and set aside to cool.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar, half of the onions, and half of the cheese. Gently stir in the cooled potatoes. Top with remaining cheese and onions, and sprinkle bacon bits over the top.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 397 | Total Fat: 30.7g | Cholesterol: 49mg

Apple Oatmeal Parfait

via Cathe Friedrich

one half apple, a few raspberries & blueberries,
5 almonds and 5 walnuts
6 oz of non-fat plain yogurt.
6 oz of skim milk
...Chop it in a blender until the apple is chopped.
Pour over oatmeal and add honey if desired

Katey's Tomato Viniagrette

Tomato vinegarette... for one... or to share.. super super easy

really low cal & delish, eat the whole thing if you want ...no guilt

dice up 1-2 nice dark red tomato or a container of cherry/grape tomatos

crush em up a bit so you have a bowl full of juicy goodness

add a few tsp- as much as you like.. of the vinegar of your choosing... I like lots in mine & usually use like a 1/4 cup w 2 tomatos... and i like lots of different kinds of vinegar so I swap it around a lot... flavored rice vinegar rocks & lots of variations never boring

add some cracked pepper & whatever other spices you enjoy in this... very customizable...

throw it over a bowl of leafy greens, toss in some shredded carrot, fruit if that's your thing... whatever u like in a salad... this tomato vinegarette is too good.

SPINACH AND ONION SAUTE

SPINACH AND ONION SAUTE

Yield: 4 servings
Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan


INGREDIENTS

- 2 tablespoons reduced-fat margarine or light butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, very thinly sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 10 ounce package prewashed baby spinach (about 10 cups)

DIRECTIONS

Place the margarine or butter in a large, deep, nonstick
skillet. Add the onion and thyme and place over medium heat.
Cover and cook for several minutes, until the onions are soft.

Add the spinach, and toss gently over medium-high heat for
a couple of minutes, just until the spinach is wilted. Serve hot.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (2/3 cup per serving):
Calories: 48, Carbohydrate: 5 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg,
Fat: 2.8 g, Fat: 0.8 g, Fiber: 2.3 g,
Protein: 2.3 g, Sodium: 106 mg, Calcium: 75 mg
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat