Dollar A Day Meals

Comment from Suzi:  I love to bake, but have never made Pineapple Upsidedown Cake. I tried the new recipe and it turned out great, very delicious and super easy!  I love that there is less sugar and the taste remains sweet.  I didn't have a 9\" square pan so used a glass baking dish and reduced the baking time to about 42 minutes. Thank you for another awesome and affordable recipe Janet!

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We found cans of name brand pineapple rings in natural juices for less than a dollar a can, at our local store.    Also, had some brown sugar on hand.  We didn't use the maraschino cherries;  it will still taste very good. Even though I use less sugar than normally called for, it is still sweet.  Very easy to make!

1/4 c. margarine or butter
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
9 slices pineapple in juice (from one can), drained/save juices

optional: 9 maraschino cherries, no stems

1 and 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. sea salt (or regular table salt)
1 and 1/3 c. unbleached flour
1/4 c. dry milk powder**
2/3 c. sugar

1/3 c. oil
3/4 c. water (can use part drained/saved juices + part water)
1 large egg

Preheat oven to 350°.   Put margarine in a 9-inch square pan, place into oven to melt.  When melted, take hot pan from oven using oven mitts: sprinkle the brown sugar over the melted margarine. Place 9 pineapple rings over the brown sugar evenly in one layer  (optional: place maraschino cherry in the middle of each pineapple ring).

Next, mix baking powder, salt, unbleached flour, dry milk, and sugar. Stir in: oil, water, egg; beat until very smooth.  Carefully pour batter over pineapple mixture in pan. Bake about 50 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Take from oven and immediately place  an 11x15x1 baking sheet  (or any heat-proof platter)  over the square pan,  then turn the baking sheet / pan over.   Leave pan on cake for a few minutes so the brown sugar mixture can cool a bit / stay on cake; then remove pan.  Serve warm. 9 servings.

**can omit dry milk and water, and just use 3/4 c. milk. But dry milk costs less and works well in baking. 

                                                ©Janet Marie Huff / dollaradaymeals.com

A delicious, sweet rice milk made with cinnamon stick (not ground cinnamon).

1⁄2 c. brown (or white) long grain rice
8 c. water
1 cinnamon stick, broken into 2 or 3 pieces
1 tsp. vanilla (optional)
up to 1⁄2 c. sugar, to taste.....start low, it does not need much

In a large saucepan, combine rice, water,  broken  cinnamon  stick. Cover and set aside to soak 2 and 1⁄2  to  3 hours.  Then bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, simmer 30 minutes.   Tip lid slightly, allow
to cool completely. Puree mixture in a blender until smooth.  Strain through cheesecloth or a very fine sieve. Flavor with vanilla / sugar. Chill. Serve over ice.
                                              ©Janet Marie Huff / dollaradaymeals.com