Upside Down Banana Layer Cake

Each year I love to make myself a birthday cake. I like to dream and plan and pull together something totally delicious. The two years we were in Korea, I wasn't able to make myself a cake and the bakery cakes were mediocre at best. I'm not saying that to brag, I just like to eat cake and have eaten my fair share over the years. Well, at least after I realized I didn't hate cake but I hated Walmart bakery style cakes with stiff sugary icing. Anyway, this year I decided to try something simple, so I made a banana upside down cake, which due to a series of unfortunate events turned into a peanut butter frosted banana upside down cake with dark chocolate ganache. If you make this cake, make it without the ganache. It is to heavy and rich for such a delightfully light cake. If you make it a layer cake, the peanut butter frosting is a light and fluffy complement. Otherwise, the cake is perfect on its own.

For the single upside down cake:

1. Grease your cake pan and preheat oven to 350F.
2. Mix together 3/4 cup brown sugar and 6 tablespoons melted butter. Spread evenly over the bottom of the pan.
3. Arrange banana slices (from one sliced banana) on top of sugar mixture.
4. In a separate bowl, mix together 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder and 1 1/2 cups sugar.
5. Add 1 cup of mashed bananas, 3/4 cup buttermilk, 1/2 cup shortening, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat on low until combined .
6. Beat in two eggs until combined.
7. Pour over bananas and bake about 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving dish.

For the layer cake:

1. Bake two of the above cakes. Cool and stack with the "upside down" banana parts touching to form the filling layer.
2. Frost with peanut butter frosting ( Beat 1 stick softened butter and 1 cup peanut butter. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and two cups powdered sugar. Beat until smooth, adding up to 3 tablespoons of milk to smooth the frosting out.)
3. Optional: Top with milk chocolate chips and peanut butter chips.

Happy Birthday Little Sister!

Today, August 4th, is my little sister's birthday. We call her Monkey Beth. Don't ask.

She turns 18 today! I guess she's not so little anymore.I can't believe that she graduated highschool this year! I still remember when she said "geen" for green. She's heading off to USC-B. Which is in Beaufort, SC. I'm sad that I'm not at home to make her banana chocolate chip cookies.

Time for a trip down memory lane:

We're both so young here. She's the fashionable one in the black hat.

We used to take modeling lessons at the YMCA

We're both beach bums at heart. I think she caught this fish.

This is the "grandgirls"

This was taken a year or two ago.

She's on the left. I'm the one that looks 16.

Graduation Day!

Happy Birthday Monkey Beth!!!

Incorporating Thursday Five

Yesterday I got really excited when I realized that that today was Thursday and I could post my Thursday Five. Doing this blog exercise really helps me keep my mood up, focus on small things that make me happy, and reflect on things I'm thanksful for. I've been trying to have myself thin of things at the end of my day that were good things. Also, I like thinking about things I'm thankful for and incorporating them into my prayers.

Happy

Giddy

Joyful

Excited

Appreciative

1. Today is Mr. Groom's 31st birthday! Its his last birthday before we get married and his third birthday that I've known him (although on the first one he let his birthday pass by without telling me). Tonight we're going out for duck when he gets off work and I'm  getting all dolled up for him in a cute dress and heels. Hopefully my hair will behave.

2. I went to Dunkin Doughnuts this morning and ate a chocoalte waffle and a powedered doughnut stuffed with pineapple. Yummy!

3. I've been on several enjoyable walks this week to my special excercise spot. I'll do a post later showing you the trail I take and the exercise equipment at the top of the hill

4.Its mail time!I got a precious moments card from my future mother-in-law this week and a letter from my roomate Lyric (I love precious moments!)

5. Mr. Groom seems  to be moving out of the dark spot he was in and is returning to his usual cheerful, jokester self.

What things made your week?

Its My Birthday!

I woke up this morning and went to breakfast at Oran Mor, a church thats been converted into a restaurant/bar/theater. Its gorgeous in there and my french toast was delish!

Then I went shopping with the birthday money my parents gave me and bought a new plaid wallet (spirit of Scotland) and earrings (celtic design). I took pics but my flat has crap lighting and they didnt turn out so well.

I got back from  my morning out and talked with my boyfriend who.....................