Buccaneer's Landing Pineapple Upside-down Cake

My uncle, the Infamous Pirate Derith, had a fairly young cook when he was still sailing the ocean waves.  When my uncle retired the cook stayed at the old island hideout with her husband.  They had many children and were quite happy in that secret and sheltered island.  They were surprised but not shocked when we sailed into the small harbor for the first time.

Old Derith had said that he planned eventually for someone to replace him.  They had also recognized the Sea Queen, his old ship.  They also said that it was the only ship that could safely find the harbor.  In the years since Derith left them here they had seen no ships.  Many timbers and a few ship wrecked sailors, who became a part of the family.  Many of the survivors were galley slaves and happy at their new found freedom.  They were glad to join our crew so that one day they might find their way home again.

Shortly after we arrived the old cook locked the door to the kitchen.  Many hours later she emerged carrying the largest cast iron skillet I had ever seen with a large oven board covering it.  When she got to the table with a great flourish she flipped the pan over so that the oven board landed on the table with a great thud.  She told me that my uncle had always asked her to make this when he came back from long trips.  She revealed a Buccaneers Landing Pineapple Upside-down Cake.  It was big enough to feed the entire crew with some left over.  Her daughter became my ships cook and every time we dropped someone at the port closest to their home she would make the cake, albeit much smaller.

1 Can pineapple rings
1 Cup brown sugar
1 Jar maraschino cherries
1 Tablespoon dark rum
½ Cup chopped macadamia nuts
Pineapple juice
Butter
2 eggs (approximately)
1 box yellow cake mix

- Butter a cast iron skillet (12 inch diameter approximately)
- Evenly distribute the brown sugar around the bottom of the pan
- Place pineapple rings on brown sugar and place a cherry inside each. Optionally you can cut the pineapple rings in half arrange them in concentric circles that way with half cherries in the centers.
- Sprinkle the dark rum over the pineapple and the cherries at this point
- Mix the yellow cake mix according to the directions replacing the water with an equal amount of pineapple juice and an equal amount of butter for the oil
- Add the macadamia nuts after you have been mixing the other ingredients for about a minute.
- Pour into cast iron skillet and back following directions on the box.
- After the cake is done run a knife closely along the edge of the pan to prevent sticking.
- Let the cake cool for about 3-5 minutes until the heat in the iron has dispated so that you can flip it.
- Make sure when you flip it to put what ever you are flipping it onto upside down on the skillet like a lid. And turn it quickly.
- Serve while still warm if possible.

From ‘The life of a Pirate’ by Talona The Red.

Visit the home of Talona The Red http://www.freepiratesforhire.com

January 5, 2012: The Epub version of my book is now onsale, also in celebration discounted the price of the paperback for a limited time.

December 8, 2011: My first novel is available for sale on Lulu, also uploaded the 3 recipe stories I edited.

October 3, 2011: Due to the impending publication of my first novel, I will be taking some time off from book 2 to edit all of the stories on here. No dates will be changed unless a significant rewrite occurs and then it will be marked: new date (old date).