U is for...

U is for Upside Down Desserts.
Who:Upside Down Desserts.
What: Most simply, an upside down dessert would have the filling or topping (ie sauce, fruit, nuts) placed at the bottom of the pan/baking dish. The batter or dough is placed on top and then when the cooking is finished the dish is inverted, so the topping is visible. Most upside down desserts are cakes.
Where: The word "Cake" was first used in Europe in the 1200's. However similar goods had been made since the Middle Ages.
When: Cakes that were similar to our modern style began over there around the 1600's. The Pineapple Upside Down cake, the most popular style of Upside Down Desserts, was created in the early 1900's, most likely in the 1920's when canned pineapple was readily available.
Why: 'Cause it tastes good!

Easy Strawberry Upside Down Brownies



Alrighty, get your self a box (GASP!) of brownie mix. I used the low fat sort you only have to add water to. Mix up the batter as per the box and set aside. Preheat your oven as per the box too. Then take your muffin tins - I use silicon - and grease or spray VERY WELL. You don't want these suckers to stick. DO NOT use paper liners, because then you can't see the bottom, what becomes the top. Chop up some berries and put a spoonful or so in the bottom of each muffin cup. Top with the batter and cook as per the directions on the box. When they are done, and don't forget to do the old toothpick test, remove them from the oven and let them sit for 10 minutes on a rack, still in the pan. Then carefully flip the muffin pan over, tapping, wiggling and prying as needed to get those suckers out. Hopefully they will all come out whole and intact. If not, they still taste good.


Upside Down Apple Tart

altered slightly from Baking: From My Home To Yours by Dorie Greenspan

1 sheet pre-rolled puff pastry
4 oz butter
1/2 cup sugar
5 large Red Delicious apples, peeled, cored and cut into fourths

Heat a 10 or 12" pan over medium high heat. Add the butter and stir, coating the surface of the pan. When the butter is melted, sprinkle over the sugar. Place the apple quarters in the pan tightly. Cut up one or two of the quarters and fill in any small spaces between the apple pieces.

Cook the apples, without stirring, over medium high heat until the sugar caramelizes. Lower the heat to medium if necessary. When the sugar has turned golden, remove the pan from the heat. Preheat the oven to 375'. Roll or press out the puff pastry, if needed so the pastry is a bit larger than the pan. Poke some holes in the pastry with a fork and carefully lay the pastry over the pan, adjusting as needed to cover all the apples. Bake for 25-35 minutes until the pastry is crisp and golden brown.

Remove the pan from the oven, and wearing oven mitts and being VERY CAREFUL, invert the pan onto a plate or tray that is at least 2 inches larger than the pan. Center the tart on the plate, wipe away any splatters and let sit for 20 minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream for the best dessert.





Previous Alphabet Posts:
A is for Artichoke
B is for Beet
C is for Carrot
D is for Dogs
E is for Egg
F is for Fondue
G is for Garlic
H is for Hamburger
I is for Indian Food
J is for Jamie Oliver
K is for Kaffir Lime Leaves
L is for Lobster
M is for Mushroom
N is for Noodle
O is for Onion
P is for Pub Food
Q is for Quinoa
R is for Rice
S is for Sushi
T is for Taco