Upside Down Goodness

 One of the most classic American desserts is the pineapple upside down cake.It's a cheery, fun dessert that's been around for decades.The thing is it needs to be changed up.How about subbing in other fruits - and nuts for those classic slices.

Regular contributor Melissa Clark thought that in today's New York Times Food section. She takes this decades old recipe and blows it wide open in her A Good Appetite column. For years American home bakers made this cake withit's tropical yellow rings and bright red maraschino cherries. This is nothign new hwoever. The recipe actually started in France based on a very old recipe apple tarte renversee, reinvented into Tarte Tatin by Loire Valley hoteliers Caroline and Stephanie Tatin in the 19th Century. THis still is a popular and lush dessert, with caramelized apples and a buttery puff pastry base. Upside down cakes are also popular in other countries too. 18th and 19th Century americans only had one oan - the skillet. and a stove or open fire. Home chefs  then cooked f their ruit with butter or syrup before adding the batter. The cake was then flipped out of the pan or even served from the skillet . The Germans have something similar apfelfan kuchen, upside down pancakes as do the French with their sanciaux. Americans had something similar with tansy. It wasn't unusual for home bakers to make upside down cakes with prunes or apricots.

Yet it was the pineapple company Dole's 1926 recipe contest that gave us the recipe. There were 60,000 recipes , 2,400 were the upside down cake recipe. It is a classic however Ms. Clark gives a recipe for a pineapple -pecan one for a crunchy difference.She also has variations that include stone fruit like nectarines, plums and apricots alogn with strawberries. There's also a yummy Bananas Foster one made with velvety sliced bananas and coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans. Three cups of fruit and nuts are  caramelized first in unsalted butter  ,light brown sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice.  It's perfect for any fruit. The cake is a rich one, thanks to the addition of sour cream or plain whole milk yogurt and half a cup of unsalted butter. The last is melted and then cooled as it's added with the sugar  lemon zest and yogurt. The dry ingredients  such as baking powder and baking soda.  These are whisked in along with the flour. The batter is  poured into a buttered skilled and on top of the fruit and nuts.Spread it evenly and then bake for thirty-five to forty-five minutes in a 350 Farenheit oven. Let it sit in the skillet for ten to fifteen minutes.Invert on a plate and then let sit another half hour before serving.

An upside down cake with fresh fruit and nuts is a great treat. You can make the traditional pineapple with a twist. You can also change it up with fruits and nuts for a tasty cake.

The Scoop On Ice Cream Creations

Now that's it's officially summer  it's time to get out the ice cream.Most people are happy with just a scoop of  vanilla i a waffle bowl/ Yet ice cream begs to be turned into something a bit more extravagant. Get out the scoop and get creative.

You 'll need ice cream, whether home made or store bought. If you're cranking it yourself, then go wild with different flavors. Mix rosemary and honey . Try cheesecake with pistachios.  Toss in Raisinets or Milk Duds in a homemade chocolate ice cream.  If you're buying it then stick strictly with ice cream.it holds up better ,  I think, with hot fudge and caramel. It's not as intense and works well with any add ins. One of the easiest ice cream creations to make is the sundae. It's usually just two or  three scoops , drenched in some kind of sauce  and then topped with whipped cream. For a different spin use  a homemade salted chocolate sauce  which is easy to make. It's just taking salted butter and a scant pinch of sea salt to  chopped dark chocolate  and brown sugar. Sundaes are sometimes layered with fruit. For a truly lush creation. have the first layer of strawberries or raspberries , then the ice cream. Top with the chocolate sauce and mounds of homemade whipped cream. Reserve some of the chocolate bar , and using a hasp, shave off  light puffy shards of it to decorate. You can sub in salted  caramel too for the chocolate sauce and topped with chopped  salted caramels .

Banana splits are the height of cool decadence.It's taking three scoops of the same ice cream or three different ones (usually, vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry) and placing them on a long oval dish or banana boat. Slice a banana lengthwise and place on each side of the scoops. Top the vanilla with pineapple , the chocolate with chocolate sauce  and the strawberry with strawberries or strawberry topping. Generously cover with whipped cream, wet walnuts and maraschino cherries.  You can also create a Bananas Foster split too. with vanilla ice cream for a truly decadent dessert or snack. Another fun treat is the classic ice cream sandwich. Moms across the world usually plop ice cream between two giant cookies and then roll them in sprinkles or chopped nuts. Make it  bit more sophisticated. by using pound cake, (it can be store bought) Slice a slice in two and layer softened ice cream on it. It can be placed in a puddle of sauce or coulis and topped with either whipped cream or creme fraiche. For a fancier spin cut  the slices into quarters to make ice cream petit fours. Add a  puff of whipped cream, then top with chocolate shavings, sprinkles or even edible flowers.

It is summer and that means ice cream. Go all out and create something wonderful, cool and tasty . Then enjoy!

Feeding The Animals

Even animals, both domestic and feral need a break during these hot days. They , too, suffer from the heat and its' consequences. Make it a bit easier on them so they can enjoy and survive this humid weather. They'll feel better and so will you.

One of the musts for any indoor or out door creature is a cool bowl of water. One of the best ideas is to put an ice cube or two so that the water maintains that refreshing coldness. Chilled milk is fine for both your domestic kitty and feral visitor. Just keep it out of the direct sunlight along with diluting it with water (pure milk can cause stomach problems and diarrhea). As for food, you can let the ferals gnaw on any ribs or bits and pieces of dogs and burgers leftover from your barbecue. It's better, though  just to open up a can of food because the scraps may be too much for certain cats and dogs. If you've just started to feel ferals or are starting a feral cat colony, remember that other animals, primarily raccoons, will also eat whatever you',ve left out. What you can do is provide them with extra grub in the form of leftover bread and cookies.(for some reason they're partial towards sweets however don't give them anything with chocolate in it. chocolate is lethal for raccoons too).If you're lucky enough to have deer, then feed them accordingly. They eat plant,s fruit and nuts. You could buy extra melon or drupe fruit such as nectarines, plums and peaches and then pit them. Just remember that deer cannot eat corn. It's highly lethal and can cause extreme sickness.

Just like many of us, the homeless also have companion animals. Like ours they need to have proper food and water to survive.If you do have a homeless person on your block with a cat or dog, treat the companion to a meal. Set out some bowls with ice water and either dry or wet food. Also check to see if the animal is showing signs of dehydration. They will usually have sunken eyes, the skin can be tented (to see this pick up the folds of skin along the spine and see if it snaps back into place. If not the animal may need subcutaneous fluids which a vet or vet tech can give you or can administer) and pale , shrunken gums. Some homeless shelters like the ones in Los Angeles and New York City will also take in companion pets however if not offer to foster the animal in your back yard or garage.Another idea is supplying food pantries with dog and cat food. Many people do have companion animals but don't have the extra money for food. Donate what you can to your nearest shelter, whether it's dry or wet, aimed at kittens and puppy or senior cats and dogs. Also donate to your nearest no kill shelter as well. To show your appreciation , consider giving the staff there a tray of cupcakes or donating to their barbecues. Many work tirelessly to help these abandoned and unwanted creatures.Show them your gratitude  for what  they are doing.

Animals too need a break in this hot weather. Make sure they're well hydrated and well fed. They'll appreciate it with a purr or a wagging tail.