I struggled when I tried to make Lemon Meringue pies for the church pie sale, and my litany of profanity made them more colorful than confetti cakes. Since then I have abandoned baking anything that requires a culinary arts degree. And during the 2-3 hot days we have in Maine during the summer, I refuse to sweat swear over a 450 degree oven.
My love affair with cake prompted me to create an easy, cool recipe that excludes offensive ingredients, like curses and frustration. So here is my version of pineapple upside down cake that I’ve named ‘no curse’ dessert.
- Serves: 1-8 depending on how desperate you are for cake
- Prep time: 47 seconds
- Total time: 30 minutes
- Cook time: 0 minutes – Yippee!
Ingredients:
- 1 angel food cake
- 1 can of pineapple rings
- 1 jar of maraschino cherries
- 1 can of whipped cream
Instructions:
- Open plastic lid from angel food cake. This is time consuming, since the lid is securely fastened welded. If you have toddlers around, you could have them open it. If not, go to Plan B.
- Carefully remove plastic lid, as there is risk of cuts from its razor-sharp edges. I did pretty well and only needed one Band-Aid.
- Open can of pineapple. Notice I invested in Dole, which costs $0.39 more than the store brand, and has a convenient pop-top for opening. Trust me when I tell you NOT TO — USE THE POP-TOP, unless you relish an emergency room visit for repair of a laceration. (Note: add 7 hours to total prep time if you choose to use the pop-top)
- Extricate a jar of maraschino cherries that you have had in the back of your refrigerator since 2003.
- Place a ring of pineapple and a cherry on a cute dessert plate, because something this elegant deserves your best Chinet.
- Place generous piece of angel cake on top of the fruit.
- Open canister of REAL whipped cream. (Note: DO NOT SUBSTITUTE. Would you want to use ‘whipped topping’ on your genuine Dole pineapple?)
- Take a hit of nitrous oxide, because you are tense after step 7.
- Smother your layered masterpiece with delicious REAL whipped cream.
Do you have a recipe for a sweet summer ‘no curse’ dessert you can share? Do you like angel cake? Does it make you feel angelic when you eat it? Do you know how to get whipped cream out of your nose? Do you use aprons when you ‘cook?’ Do you think I should repair the pocket of my apron, or do you like the well-worn look? When I’m finished eating cake I promise to respond to all your answers and comments.
For more of my humor go HERE.
Molly, I think you should write the new millennium edition of the “I Hate to Cook Book” (remember Peg Bracken’s tome from the 1960s?). With your visuals, you’ll have the kitchen-averse eating out of your hand!
I think you are onto something, Roxanne. I am definitely thinking of developing more ‘easy’ recipes for those of us who are sick of cooking.
We should crown you the new Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines! I love how you think!
I think I would look great in a crown, Donna. I’ve been trying to convince my husband and family of this for years and not only have they scoffed my request, they refuse to call me ‘your highness!’ And even after I slave in the kitchen making this complicated dessert too.
I always curse when forced to cook, but maybe that recipe will break me of the habit!
The only cursing you will want to do when you make this dessert, Mark, is when you take your first bite. I should have added a footnote: ‘this dessert sucks!’