Guncle , Plum Cake and Ice cream

 Guncle by Steven Rowley served with Plum Cake and Plum Ice Cream 

This book has been all over Bookstagram.  It has been the book of the summer and for good reason.  I won't spend a lot of time on this but it is a delight to read.  GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) takes in his niece and nephew for the summer after their mom dies and their dad needs help kicking an addiction.  Patrick lives in Palm Springs and gave up acting years ago when he had his own tragedy .   He finds himself trying to help a 6 & 9 year old deal with a parents death and also help himself move forward in life.  There is a lot of joy in this book as they get to know each other and have fun.  Patrick let's them have treats and teaches them Guncle rules but there is also some sweetness as they all move through their pain.   It was just what I needed at the time. 

It just so happened that my nephew John was visiting this past weekend.  I had been thinking about what to make for this book when a friend brought me so plums.  Patrick gives the kids cake and ice cream so it  felt like the perfect weekend for plum upside cake with a nephew AND I had enough for plum ice-cream also! 

This upside cake is a favorite of mine.  it is super easy and can be thrown together in a minute.  I love a cake like that!   For the Ice cream, I just made a basic ice cream base and added some plum puree to it. 

 

Here is the cake recipe.  Enjoy!  

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons margarine
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup margarine
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup milk
• 6-8 plums.  Pitted and thinly sliced 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 inch cake pan.  I actually used a copper deep skillet.  Combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In the prepared pan, combine 3 tablespoons margarine and brown sugar. Place pan inside the preheated oven until the margarine melts and begins to bubble. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the 1/3 cup margarine and 1 cup white sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated.

Arrange plums around the edges of the prepared pan, overlapping slightly.  Pour batter into prepared pan, covering fruit completely. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool 15 minutes before serving.