Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and Chocolate Cinnamon cake

 At the end of last year, the Bookstagram community was all over The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue.  I really find the best recommendation through those readers!   And as usual, i'm about 6 months behind on reading.   I finished this one up the first week of March and really liked it.  It started a little bit slow for me but by the halfway point, I was totally hooked.  

Adeline prays to the old gods after dark and her prayer is answered.  She prays to be saved from a forced marriage that she doesn't want.  She is,  but she will now be forgotten by everyone who ever meets her.   The book flips back and forth from the 1700's where is starts to present day NYC.  We start to discover how she now lives in this world where her heart gets broken daily and everything she might want gets lost.  As we go back and forth in time, we find that the dark god (is it the devil?) stays with her.  Luc appears to her from time to time always playing with her and occasionally reminding her of his power.  He is waiting for her to give up and hand over her soul.  She will not.   Finally in the present day, she meets someone who remembers her.  The first time in 300 years!  I can't tell you about Henry because that would be giving away parts of the story you need to discover. 

Here's the thing... I gave this 5 stars because I read it in 3 days because I was hooked.   I liked the writing, the story and the characters.  BUT it might really be 4.5 because I wanted more!  I wanted to know more about some of the years she skips over.   How did she really get to America, she hints at her role in the wars but I wanted more of that.   There were too many years to cover and I wanted to know what happened in all of them.  I'm also not 100% sure what I think of the end.  

But, overall a great read and I would highly recommend. 

https://variety.com/2020/film/news/v-e-schwab-novel-invisible-life-of-addie-larue-film-1234788936/

I am pairing it with Chocolate Cinnamon Bread.  This is a recipe from Starbucks.  Anyone reading this probably knows i work at the corporate headquarters and we published this recipe years ago with we sold the product.  SInce then the recipe was pulled from the website but several food bloggers saved it and keep it posted.   I make it every year from a dear friends birthday because she loves it!!   I love it too but i give it all away because it is too tempting to eat the entire thing.  SOOOOO  good.   I thought it went well with this book because it is unforgettable after all of these years and it is dark and delicious as some might think Luc is.   It just seemed to fit. 

here is the official SBUX recipe! 

Starbucks.Chocolate Cinnamon Bread

INGREDIENTS

• ▢3 sticks unsalted butter room temperature, 1 1/2 cups
• ▢3 cups granulated sugar
• ▢5 eggs, room temperature
• ▢2 cups all-purpose flour
• ▢1 1/4 cup dutch-processed cocoa
• ▢1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• ▢1 tsp salt
• ▢1/2 tsp baking powder
• ▢1/2 tsp baking soda
• ▢1 cup buttermilk
• ▢1/4 cup water
• ▢1 tsp vanilla extract

FOR THE TOPPING:

• ▢1/4 cup granulated sugar
• ▢3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• ▢Pinch of ground ginger
• ▢Pinch of ground cloves
• ▢1/4 cup sugar sparkles, for decorating

NSTRUCTIONS

• ▢
  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 9x5 loaf pans with parchment paper with enough that they are hanging off both sides for easy bread removal.
• ▢
  In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the topping EXCEPT the sparkle sugar. Set the topping mixture aside.
• ▢
  In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
• ▢
  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Then add in the eggs, one at a time, incorporating them well after each addition.
• ▢
  In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, water, and vanilla extract.
• ▢
  Alternating between the dry mixture and the buttermilk mixture, add the contents to the bowl of the stand mixer, mixing at a low speed. Mix until ingredients are well incorporated. You may need to scrape down the sides of your bowl once or twice.
• ▢
  Divide the batter evenly among the two prepare loaf pans. Divide the topping mixture between the two loaves then sprinkle the sparkle sugar on top.
• ▢
  Bake for 45-50 minutes (or longer). Use a toothpick and insert it into the middle of the bread to check for doneness. The toothpick should come out clean when bread is done.
• ▢
  Remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes before pulling up on the parchment paper to remove the bread from the pan and letting it cool completely on a wire cooling rack. Let cool before slicing.
• ▢
  Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
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Convenience Store Woman and Japanese Souffle Pancakes!

 Recently I discovered the Podcast called "Strong Sense of Place".   They discuss a place and the books that really give you a taste of being there.   Some fiction, some non-fiction.  I love it!   I listened to the Japan episode since that is where my niece is.   It was such a great show and they mentioned a book that grabbed my attention - Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata.  I listened to it on Audio as recommended.  What a strange, fun  little book! 

This is the story of Keiko who works in a convenience store.  Not only does she work there but she feels like she is part of the convenience store.   She's been there for 18 years.   She is comfortable in her life but everyone around her is pushing her to be more normal.  We hear about why they think she isn't normal and quite honestly they are all pretty mean and judgemental.  But, she is delightful.  She is obviously on the spectrum because she struggles to understand basic emotion.  She takes on the emotion of those around her because she believes that is how to pretend to be normal.   It is a wacky book.  It made me laugh out loud and also made me a little sad.  I wish they would just let her be a convenience store worker and be happy for her.   The book is pretty short and it was a perfect for my afternoon walks.  I gave it 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐.   And the narrator is fabulous!  

I decided to try those souffle pancakes that were all over social media recently.   Here is what i would say...   super delicious but a bit of work for pancakes!   I'm glad I made them but i'll probably stick with the basic pancakes next time. 

There are 100's of recipes on Pinterest.   Here is the one i used... 

Japanese Souffle Pancakes -  By Kirbie's Cravings 

• 6 tbsp cake flour
• 2 1/2 tbsp skim milk
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4  tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tbsp full fat mayonnaise or kewpie mayonnaise this is the Japanese mayonnaise
• 3 tbsp granulated white sugar
• 2 large eggs egg whites and egg yolks separated (keep egg whites chilled in fridge until ready to use)
• n a medium bowl, add milk, baking powder, vanilla, mayonnaise and egg yolks. Sift in cake flour using a flour sifter or fine mesh strainer (make sure you don't skip this!). Mix with a whisk until batter is smooth and the mixture is a pale yellow.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, add chilled egg whites and sugar. Make sure your mixing bowl and whisk attachment are completely clean and dry. If there is any oil, your egg whites won't turn into meringue. Whip on the highest speed your mixer allows, until stiff peaks form. (About 2-3 minutes.) Your meringue should be able to hold its form and if you turn the mixing bowl upside down, the meringue will not slide out.
• Using a spatula, scoop out one-third of the meringue and add to your egg yolk batter. Gently fold the meringue into the batter until there are no more white streaks. Make sure you start your folds from the bottom so that the batter at the bottom of the bowl doesn't go unmixed. You need to be gentle when folding. If you mix too hard, the meringue will lose its structure. Once the meringue has been incorporated, add in another third. Fold in. And then the final third. At the end, you batter should be very light and airy, with the meringue only just incorporated to the point where there are not visible white streaks.
• Bring your skillet to low heat. It may take a test one to figure out where exactly you want your heat setting. For me, I turned my dial to heat setting 4 (with 10 being the highest) on my gas stove top. Once the oil and pan are hot, fill each ring mold between 1/2 to 2/3 full with batter, allowing some room for them to rise. Add 1/2 tbsp of water to each side of the pan (preferably not touching the pancakes). Close the lid and allow to cook about 3-4 minutes.
• Your pancakes are ready to flip when the tops look almost completely cooked and you can move the bottom of the pancakes without batter spilling out. Use a spatula or turner to flip the pancakes (while still in their molds). I prefer to use a cookie spatula because they are thinner and slip under the molds easier.
• Cover and cook for another 2-3 minutes until pancakes are completely cooked and golden brown on both top and bottom. Place pancakes onto plate. Gently push out of the molds to remove from molds. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve warm with syrup, powdered sugar, whipped cream, fruit, or other toppings
• 
  
  
  

February Wrap up and diversity in my reading

 Can't believe February is done!  I had another good reading month.  

6 books 

    2  Audio ,  4 book format , read 1785 pages.   

1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

1 ⭐⭐⭐

to be honest, I don't really finish a book that is less than 3 stars.  If it isn't going well, I close it down and start something else.  I just have too many books to keep reading.  2 of my 4 star books are probably more like 3.5 stars.  I really struggle with to round up or to round down!  I've only posted reviews for 2 of the 6 and will eventually get around the the rest. 

My favorite was House in the Cerulean Sea.  the weirdest was Convenience Store Woman!  I listened to that one on audio and the story is totally wacky but also the narrator was great and i really wanted to see where the store would lead.  Plus, now I'm super interested in going to Japan and seeing the Convenience stores ! 

I've been thinking a lot about diversity in my reading.  I think if you had asked me, I would have told you that my reading choices were super diverse.  But when I honestly dug in and looked at what books I've read over the past year that either the Author or the main character was BIPOC or the book was not based in North America or Western Europe, the list gets small. 

Over the past 5 years, I've read 145 books.   24 have been BIPOC or set in a non western setting.  That is only about 17% of my reading!   6 of the 24 have been this year!  So, my goal for the rest of the year is to be much more intentional about adding diverse titles to my list.  Not going to put a number on it now but will shoot for more than today!   

I currently have 3 books running which is tough.  I have over committed my self at work and signed up for 2 work book groups.  1 is a business book call Atomic Habits.   Really getting a lot out of that book and the other one is How to be an AntiRacist.  I've only done chapter 1 so I have a lot more to read.  

Also, reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.  The bookstagram community loves that book so I am excited to read it.  Of course half of my library books on hold have all come in at the same time so i will be very busy for the next couple of week. 

Keep reading and stay safe! 

 

American Spy and Pizza

I finished American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson a couple of weeks ago and really struggled with how to review it.   

It is a story of an African American Woman, Marie,  who is a spy for the FBI.  The book flips around the time period between her childhood in NY in the 60's to her work with the FBI and then CIA in the 80's to the 90's where she is writing this letter/journal to her children to tell them what happened.    The book starts with this big action scene and then it settles into this story telling.  I wouldn't call it a spy thriller as much as a political thriller.   

So, here's what I liked: 

    the main character Marie was great.  

    Loved the backstory on her sister and their relationship .  I also like her mom and dad. 

    I had NO idea about any of the West Africa stuff and I had to look it up to see if this was based on reality.  It is!  I learned who Thomas Sankara was and learned a bit about a part of the world that i am blind to.  I need to educate myself on this. 

    I really liked the struggles and talk about how the FBI treated her due to race and gender.  It was and probably still is an old white boys club.  

    I listened to this book on Audio and I really liked the narrator.  She was fantastic 

What I didn't like so much; 

    This book is a bit slow.  I think if I  had been actually reading it, I would have stopped.  There is a LOT of details.  It felt like too much detail on every single thing. 

    I wanted a bit more to happen.  I just kept waiting for it.  

Overall i'm giving it 4 stars mainly because the topic was so interesting and it was the first spy novel I read where the main character is a black woman.  We need more of that.   If you decide to read, I'd encourage you to listen instead .  

I had no idea what food to make.  Once again I am terribly uneducated on African food.  And lately I have been so busy and a bit overwhelmed with work that i decided this book called for a PIZZA.  Not a pizza I made but a good old take out pizza like you might get in NYC.  Of course it taste nothing like the NYC pizza but I can pretend.  Enjoy and keep reading   

 

The House in the Cerulean Sea and a lobster roll!

 I'm having a great reading month, again! I am also a bit overwhelmed with reading because I have 4 books going at once.   My book group is reading The Life She Was Given, I have a work book group reading Atomic Habits, another book group reading How To Be An Antiracist and finally I'm listening to Convenience Store Woman on Audibles.   That is a lot going on! 

Today I'm reviewing my first read of February, The House in the Cerulean Sea.   There has been so much buzz on this book and the Bookstagram community has already reviewed the heck out of it.  So, i'm late to the game but that never stops me.   This is a delightful book!  It is all the good feels you want in a story.  

Linus Baker works at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth.  He checks in on orphanages to make sure the children are well cared for and he's been doing this for years!  One day he is given a secret assignment by the Extremely Upper Management group to visit an island and check on an a group of children and their caretaker.   He is given very little information and is told to report back every detail.   He arrives and is stunned by the children but also quickly enamored by them.   Their caregiver is a strange man named Arthur Parnassus who is very protective of the children.   It is really a wonderful story about the magic of love, overcoming bias, and learning to standup for what you believe it.   It is the second book I've read recently where you see clear discrimination and hate for someone so different then themself.   

Now, that doesn't mean there aren't a few problems.  For my friends who want a little more realism or grit in their stories, this isn't for you.   It is maybe too happy for those folks and I could see how some say it didn't go deep enough.  But, it was just what I needed.  Beautiful and full of such love.   PLUS it was such an easy read.  Once i picked it up, I finished it in 3 days.   Didn't want to put it down! 

SO what to eat with it?  I was struck by the Sea and when Linus sees it for the first time.  We are in the middle of winter and rain and snow and I long for a hot day at the sea.  That made me think of Lobster roll in the summer and sitting outside with the sun on your back, a cold beverage in your hand .  OHHH, I am so ready for that.   So, this is paired with a yummy lobster roll. 

This is pretty simple because I really believe Lobster roll should be with butter and not mayonnaise.  I melted butter and brushed it over the bun and then put the bun the the oven to toast it up.  From there i let the butter get a bit brown and added a touch of salt and pepper.  I also added a few scallions just to see how it would taste!  I dropped my chopped up lobster in the pan for a few minutes and it was ready to go.  So delicous.   Of course i paired it with chips and a couple of pickles.  And for folks who have read the book, you know i had to scatter a few buttons around.  (One of my favorite little things from the book <3 )   Enjoy and I hope you love this! 

A Jane Austen Valentines Day! with a side of Chocolate pudding

 This weekend is all about SNOW in Seattle and a little bit of love tossed in for Valentines day.  I spent the weekend doing a lot on zoom.  I had tickets for a Animated French Film festival,  A Jane Austen Tea Party and a play ticket i bought last month that was going to expire shortly.   But let's talk Jane Austen.  

Since I've been pushing my book stagram account, I've gotten sucked into the book world on social media.  Lot's of cool stuff happening.  It is fun to see all of the recommendations, contest and super creative post on Instagram.   I joined a book club called "the Enchanted Book Club" and on Saturday there was a tea Party with the Authors and illustrator for Jane Was Here.    They discussed their trip and what inspired them and it was lovely.  Totally fun book and i am going to take a trip whenever we get to travel again!   

I also discovered a great new Podcast called Nhttp://enchantedbookclub.com/ovel Pairings .  I listened to the first episode from last year on Emma and the following episode on the movie.  Such a fun discussion.   That had me going back and watching the movie again.  I saw it 4 or 5 months ago and it was fun to rewatch it.  I have a secret...  I haven't read Emma.  The only Austen i've read is P&P.   I have seen every movie version of Emma and this is probably my favorite.  I watched it while working a puzzle.  Perfect snowy day activity.    Love the costumes, the set and the actors.   Emma always bugs me a bit because she is very selfish but I also enjoy the story.  I LOVED Bill Nighy as Mr Woodhouse.   He is perfect in the role.  I wasn't familiar with the Anya Taylor-Joy before this but then i saw her in Queens Gambit.   Big Fan!   

And, finally with the snow and valentines day and all the JA, i made a big pot of homemade chocolate pudding.  Because it just felt like the right thing to do!     With all of this watching and listening, i didn't do any reading!   I have read 3 books this month and took a couple of days off.  I'll post those reviews shortly.  

Sending lot's of love to each of you. 

Chocolate pudding 

1 cup of sugar 

1/2 cup of cocoa powder 

1/4 cup of cornstarch 

1/2 tsp salt 

4 cups of milk. 

Whisk together susar, cocoa, cornstarch, salt.  whisk in milk.  I used 2%.  Heat to boiling stirring constantly.  Once it starts to boil heat for another 1-2 minutes  and then remove from heat. 

Stir in 2 tsp of vanilla and 2 tbsp butter.  Transfer serving bowls and chill.  ( I actually like to eat one bowl still warm :) 

January wrap up, Girl with Seven Names and Bibimbap

 January has been a good reading month for me.   I finished 6 books!  I say finished because to be fair, I started Saving Ruby King in Dec and finished it the first week of January.  Also, one of the books was only 90 pages so more like an Essay.  (Wolfpack by Abby Wambach which i'll review later).   The final book for January was with my Book Group, the Beehive.   We read The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector's Story.   Now, I don't read a ton of Non-Fiction and when i do, it is almost always with my book group.  We usually get in 1-2 Non Fiction titles a year.    I also must say that I struggle with some biographies.   This reminded me of Educated.  The stories have nothing really in common but they both deal with women who have to overcome hardships over and over and come out the other side much stronger.   I find it hard to deal with the hardships and struggles and life choices through the entire book.   In both cases i almost stopped listening.  (Yes, I did both of these titles on Audibles)  

The story is about Hyeonseo Lee who grew up in North Korea.   She decides to cross the border, really thinking it was just for a few days and ends up never coming back.   She realizes she has been brainwashed by the Dictatorship of North Korea.  But in China she is forced to hide who she is and realizes she can never go back because the rumors of her escape are everywhere.   The story takes us on her journey in China and eventually South Korea.  She ends up helping her mother and brother also escape.    The story is really about her desire for family and her perseverance to survive and to have a free life.   

So, it is an amazing story but i just felt worn down.   I know this is my privilege speaking but i'm not sure this is where I want to spend my reading time and I feel badly about that.   

So, at the end of the day I would say, if you love a story about strength and courage, this is for you.  I give it 3.5 stars.  ⭐⭐⭐½

When I thought about food for this story , i had NO idea what to make.  I really am not sure i have had any Korean food.   I could have gone with Chinese, which I love , but really thought this was my chance to try something different.  Of course i went to my favorite recipe source-- Pinterest.  I found a recipe that looked perfect called Bibimbap.  Essentially the basics are mixed rice with meat and assorted vegetables.    The secret is really in the sauce!   Since I'm trying not to eat meat these days, I made a vegetarian version.   It turned out so good!!  I used a recipe from  Love & Lemons  blog.  I changed it up just a bit but here is the basic.   (i had a bit of a challenge finding Gochujang sauce but finally found it at a local grocery store) 

https://www.loveandlemons.com/bibimbap-recipe/?epik=dj0yJnU9SFVqbEJiUWlSYnhJMTMtendFTHBIMDVZUGZDaEdPTVQmcD0wJm49WVhGSGM4TEN1bWdSdWFleURqTXB6ZyZ0PUFBQUFBR0FNeUdz

BIBIMBAP

Ingredients

Bowls

• ½ English cucumber, thinly sliced
• ½ teaspoon rice vinegar
• 1¼ teaspoons sesame oil, divided
• 1 cup fresh mung bean sprouts
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 4 cups baby spinach
• ½ teaspoon tamari
• 2 cups cooked short-grain white rice
• 2 fried eggs, or 1 cup cubed baked tofu
• 4 ounces sautéed shiitake mushrooms, optional
• 1 recipe Gochujang sauce
• Sesame seeds
• Sea salt
• Kimchi, optional, for serving
• Chopped scallions, optional, for serving

(okay,  i don't like shiitake mushrooms so i used your basic button mushrooms.  I used egg and not tofu and  I also used a regular cucumber .  And I did NOT use Kimchi because i can't stand it) 

• In a small bowl, toss the cucumber slices with ½ teaspoon rice vinegar, ¼ teaspoon sesame oil and a pinch of salt. Set aside.
• Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Drop in the bean sprouts and cook for 1 minute. Drain and set aside.
• Heat ½ teaspoon sesame oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the carrots and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring for 1 to 2 minutes until a little bit soft, and then remove from the pan and set aside. Heat ½ teaspoon more sesame oil in the skillet and add the spinach and tamari. Cook, tossing, for 30 seconds or until just wilted. Remove from the skillet and gently squeeze out any excess water from the spinach.
• Assemble the bowls with the rice, cucumber slices, bean sprouts, carrots, and spinach. Top with a fried egg or baked tofu. Add the mushrooms, if using. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and drizzle generously with the gochujang sauce. Serve with kimchi and scallions, if desired, and the remaining gochujang sauce on the side.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo and Spanish Rice

 I'm starting 2021 off with a bang.  4 books read and it is only halfway through January!  I actually started this book back in November.  But, twice I put it down and read other books.  I really liked the story but there isn't a lot that happens.  It is very character driven.   Emoni Santiago is a senior in high school and has a baby to take care of and a grandmother to support.   It is a story of her life, her senior year of high school, tough decisions she has to make, a new boy in her life and her passion in life-  Cooking!  

I liked the writing style and how each chapter was like a little view of her world.  I think I heard about this book in an article about books that focus on food.  She made me super hungry for good mexican food which i haven't had in a while.   I also really liked the cultural piece of learning about her background and the joy she had with her daughter .   

But, it didn't hold my interest in the beginning.  I read maybe the first 50 pages and then put it down for a month.  Came back to it and read maybe another 50 pages.  Finally, in January I came back again and finished it up.  The 2nd half moved much quicker. 

So, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ but probably closer to 3.5.  Great character, full of wonderful flavors, loved the writing but just a little slow in the first half.     Pick it up if you love a good food book or love a character driven story with really rich characters.  

Because she did make me hungry, I made Spanish Rice. Super easy to make and a great side dish!  

I ate it with grilled Chicken but i'm sure you can come up with something more delicious!  

Enjoy

Spanish Rice 

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 ½ cups long grain white rice
• ½ cup finely chopped onion
• 1 bell pepper finely diced
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 14.5 ounce fire roasted diced tomatoes, not drained
• 8 ounce can tomato sauce
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon cumin 
• 
  
• In a large pan that has a lid or skillet that has a lid, melt the butter with the olive oil.Add the rice, onion and bell pepper and cook over medium to medium-high heat until the rice is golden brown and vegetables are tender. Stir frequently. It takes about 15-20 minutes.
• Add the garlic and stir and cook for about 1 minute.Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, salt, pepper, chili powder, paprika and cumin. Stir well.Bring to a boil and then cover. 
• Reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.Let the rice sit covered for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Saving Ruby King - By Catherine Adel West

 My first book of 2021 was Saving Ruby King.  Really liked this one.  I saw this book posted on a few Bookstagram Best of 2020 list.   So many folks were saying it was a top book for the year  and yet I hadn't heard of it.   I checked it out and read it in 3 days.   Ruby Kings mother is found dead in their home in Chicago's south side (this happens at the very beginning so i'm not spoiling anything, I promise!)  The story then flips from person to person- Ruby and her sadness and reality of living with a violent father.  Layla, her best friend who has been trying to save her  friend for years.  Lebanon, the abusive father/husband.  Layla's father and pastor of the church and even the church itself has a narrative.   

At first I thought the Church narrative was a bit weird but it ended up providing a lot of the back story we needed to understand this story.   By the end I liked having the Church as a character.   

Not only did I find it a page turner but I liked the exploration of the black church, the racial tensions,  and the theme of loyalty.   I also think the family violence passing from generation to generation is a tough and emotional subject but she handled it well.   

This is the authors debut novel and I am excited to see her future!  

I give this 4 solid stars!   Great way to start the new year. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Because there is a reference to a Pineapple Upside Down Cake in the novel, i thought...   That sounds delicious!  I haven't made a pineapple upside down cake in ages.  

I found a simple recipe and altered it just a bit and ...  here you go. 

• 
  
• Pineapple Upside Down Cake  (slightly altered from Trisha Yearwoods recipe) 
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 9 slices canned pineapple in juice, drained
• 5 maraschino cherries
• 1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup solid vegetable shortening
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup milk
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the butter in an 8-by-8-by-2-inch square baking pan and set it over low heat to melt.  ( I actually used a round copper pan and put it in the oven for about 5 minutes to melt the butter)  When melted, sprinkle the brown sugar over the butter. Arrange the pineapple rings in a single layer on top of the sugar, making 3 rows.( the round pan only took 7 pineapple rings so do what you can)   Cut the maraschino cherries in half, and place one half, cut-side up, in the center of each pineapple ring. Set the pan aside.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt.   Set aside. Using an electric mixer, mix together the shortening, granulated sugar, egg and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with flour. Stir only enough after each addition to combine.
• Pour the batter carefully into the pineapple-lined baking pan and bake for 40 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center or pressing the cake lightly with a fingertip; if the impression springs back, the cake is done. Run a knife around the edges of the pan and place a serving dish on top. Invert the cake onto the serving dish. Leave the pan inverted over the cake for several moments to allow the syrup to soak into the cake.
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