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Turn that frown(or cake) upside-down…

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So the majority of my cookbooks are packed up(it took 21 boxes :P), and that is with me keeping out 22 “just in case” I needed them(is what I told my husband). Yet I still felt compelled to buy a cookbook this week. In my defense, It was pre-ordered so I actually forgot about it. I am a big fan of The Pastry Queen cookbook and have many a wonderful delight from that cookbook, some have even made it onto the blog. So I was very excited to see awhile back that Rebecca Rather(the author) was coming out with another cookbook…with this one focusing on Christmas! Oh happy day. I quickly pre-ordered that baby on Amazon and then forgot. So it was a fun surprise getting it this past week.
This cookbook, like the last one did not disappoint, though it has far few dessert recipes in it, which is fine since, believe it or not, we do eat things around here other than pastry and sweets.
The original recipe leaves the pear in slices(to lazy to make them all pretty) and has a wonderful sounding Amaretto whipped cream. I opted to drizzle caramel over mine since I had it in the fridge and I am trying to clean that out.
We sign our life away today, gulp. Such a surreal feeling, owing all that money to someone. Gulp. We should have our keys on Friday and that is when the fun begins…..

 

Warm Pear Ginger Upside-Down Cake

Topping:
½ cup salted butter
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 ripe pears, (I used a red variety that was described as sweet…but forgot the name :P)…the book suggests Anjou or Bartlett
2 TBSP finely chopped candied ginger

To make the topping: Chop pears into a dice, leaving the skins on; set aside. In a medium saucepan combine butter and sugar and bring to a boil. Take off of heat and whisk just to combine and pour into prepared pan.(This recipe calls for a 9 or 10-inch cake pan with sides that are at least 2 inches tall.) Sprinkle pears all over the pan and then followed by candied ginger. Set aside.

Cake:
½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp kosher salt
½ cup milk
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
2 TBSP finely chopped candied ginger

To make the cake: Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs and beat for another 30 seconds. Stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. To the butter mixture, add the flour mixture in 3 increments, the milk in two, starting and ending with the flour, beating on low speed between each addition. Stir in the vanilla and candied ginger. Pour the batter evenly over the pears. Bake(at 350F) for about 45 minutes if using a 10-inch pan and about 55 minutes for a 9-incher. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and immediately invert onto a large cake plate. Let cool for about 15 minutes.

Adapted from The Pastry Queen Christmas by Rebecca Rather with Alison Oresman

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Comments

  1. Belinda says

    October 17, 2007 at 1:26 pm

    The Pastry Queen Christmas book is on my wish list, Peabody, and gazing at your Warm Pear Ginger Upside-Down Cake, I am already chomping at the bit to get a copy! Wow…this cake is a beauty! I can imagine how excited you are about your new home, and getting all of those cookbooks settled into your beautiful new kitchen. 🙂 Best of luck with everything to do with the move.

    Reply
  2. Lydia says

    October 17, 2007 at 2:09 pm

    Wishing you an easy closing and a smooth move into the new house (and new kitchen!)….

    Reply
  3. Abby says

    October 17, 2007 at 2:34 pm

    A piece of that would certainly make all your blues drift away! Congrats on your new house – homeownership is a wild and crazy ride!

    Reply
  4. johanna says

    October 17, 2007 at 2:50 pm

    this looks great – as usual (sigh!) good luck with everything, i have moved 5 times in the last 10 years and am feeling with you!

    Reply
  5. Jennifer says

    October 17, 2007 at 2:56 pm

    It looks so decadent! A helpful hint for organizing your new kitchen: write down your stuff (dishes, mixing bowls, etc. – not too specific) on post-its and stick them on the cabinets you want to use. It’s much easier to rearrange some little pieces of paper than all your stuff! Congratulation!

    Reply
  6. Sindy says

    October 17, 2007 at 3:43 pm

    I find it amazing that you are buying a house, packing and preparing to move yet still make time to bake. I mean for real baking not like my own dress up a package baking! I could not produce lucious stuff you do if that was ALL I had to do in life. Good luck to you in your closing and move!

    Reply
  7. JEP says

    October 17, 2007 at 4:06 pm

    I’m “learning” to like pears—and what better way than to try your recipe!

    Reply
  8. Hannah says

    October 17, 2007 at 4:39 pm

    Oh my, that cake looks incredible! Certainly the best way to ease the pain of moving, too! 😉

    Reply
  9. VeggieGirl says

    October 17, 2007 at 5:09 pm

    wow, you’ve packed 21 cookbooks and you STILL have that amount left to pack?? whew!! I have quite a few cookbooks, but nowhere NEAR that amount – yet ;0)

    oooh I like your rendition of this Warm Pear Ginger Upside-Down Cake, with the caramel drizzle – perfect cake to turn a frown upside-down, indeed!

    I wish you the best of luck with all the moving, and with living in your new home – how exciting!!

    **by the way, I responded to your comment on my blog, in your previous post.

    Reply
  10. Brittany says

    October 17, 2007 at 5:15 pm

    Congrats again on you and your hubby’s new home. Are you are anxious to get into that big beautiful kitchen?…I’m sure it will be christened with something delicious. This cake looks so nummy. A little slice of fall. : )

    Reply
  11. Gigi says

    October 17, 2007 at 5:37 pm

    mmm! The cake looks amazing, as all ways.

    Reply
  12. Tartelette says

    October 17, 2007 at 6:01 pm

    Absolutely mouth watering…all that caramel is making my head turn!!
    The cookbook sounds very promising and what a great Christmas present!

    Reply
  13. MrsPresley says

    October 17, 2007 at 6:05 pm

    i’m so impressed! i can’t believe that you are moving and in the midst of it all, still baking up these wonderful treats! this looks sooooo good and i will have to add it to my long list of things to try 🙂

    Reply
  14. Ashley says

    October 17, 2007 at 6:49 pm

    as usual, it looks amazing. I love the first Pastry Queen cookbook and I can’t wait to get this one. I’m ordering it in 2 weeks after we’ve moved. I can’t wait.

    Congrats on your new house!! Can’t wait to see all the new wonderful concoctions that come out of your fab new kitchen 🙂

    Reply
  15. Elle says

    October 17, 2007 at 6:51 pm

    Totally impressive that you can pack up your house and still make and post these gorgeous recipes…all the while using up things in the fridge. This one is a winner and the caramel sauce seems perfect with it.
    As far as signing your life away, just think of it as an investment…’cuz it is, especially where you live. Cheers!

    Reply
  16. Anh says

    October 17, 2007 at 8:42 pm

    You are a super woman! Your cake is always wonderful!

    Reply
  17. Tanna says

    October 17, 2007 at 9:11 pm

    This looks really so good. Of course you’d do caramel over this one. Looks like very delicate cake with fantastic pear topping.
    Good luck with the moving! You’ll forget how much you owe soon (except the day you pay the mort each month) because you’ll be enjoying every thing in that new house and kitchen!!

    Reply
  18. Katie says

    October 17, 2007 at 10:48 pm

    Only one word needed – wow!

    Reply
  19. Lisa says

    October 18, 2007 at 2:00 am

    Don’t you love when you order something and then forgetting about it? It’s like getting a present in the mail! hehe

    I’m at a loss for words to describe how I feel about this lil cake. How’s about — *swoon*

    xoxo

    Reply
  20. KJ says

    October 18, 2007 at 2:17 am

    I love getting stuff in the mail. Anything is good. An unexpected cook book would be mega exciting.

    Your cake looks really delicious. I love anything with ginger.

    Reply
  21. Jasmine says

    October 18, 2007 at 4:07 am

    I am speechless… I love pears, I love ginger, but never thought about pairing them together. Looks soooooo good! I have never seen red pears before. All we have in Quebec is Bartlett. The pear on your picture looks like it’s been covered with red sugar, like candy apples. Cute!

    Reply
  22. April says

    October 18, 2007 at 5:14 am

    The only thing that comes to mind about this one is YUM!!

    Congrats on your new home!

    Reply
  23. Patricia Scarpin says

    October 18, 2007 at 5:16 am

    Hey, sweetie, I can’t wait to see all the delicious stuff you’ll be cooking and baking in the new kitchen!
    This cake is mouthwatering, Pea.

    Reply
  24. Cheryl says

    October 18, 2007 at 5:28 am

    Absolutely sumptuous looking cake. I wish you absolutely all the best in the signing and moving in of your new house. Definitely enjoy it!!!

    Reply
  25. Jeff says

    October 18, 2007 at 8:13 am

    Just when I thought I was out..Peabody brings me right back with some yummy treats!

    Reply
  26. Jerry says

    October 18, 2007 at 8:44 am

    So wanting to buy this book and now your giving me a reason to.

    Reply
  27. Deborah says

    October 18, 2007 at 9:07 am

    Funny story – I had a cookbook with me at work yesterday, and a girl I work with asked me how many cookbooks I own. I told her somewhere between 30 and 40, which I never thought was a large number, but she seemed blown away. Then I went home last night and read your post – 21 boxes!!! I will have to tell the girl I work with – she will think that you are crazy! My husband says he gives me 3 years until I have that many, but by then, you will probably have twice as many!!

    Reply
  28. Nabeela says

    October 18, 2007 at 11:38 am

    21 boxes!!!!! That’s a LOT of cookbooks. I have just 35…and I feel guilty. Maybe I shouldn’t….and maybe I should show my husband your post when he starts talking about how many cookbooks I have 😉

    Reply
  29. Joe says

    October 18, 2007 at 12:02 pm

    I really don’t need another cookbook, but this one just might sneak its way into my shelf soon!

    Reply
  30. Shawnda says

    October 18, 2007 at 2:16 pm

    The cake looks delicious! I occasionally pick up TPQ’s first cookbook and read it front-to-back like a “real” book 🙂 I can’t wait to get my hands on the new one!

    Reply
  31. Steph says

    October 18, 2007 at 5:12 pm

    21 boxes!?! and i thought i had a cookbook collecting ‘problem’…from the looks of that cake, i’d say your latest purchase was a worthwhile addition. how you have managed to make so many great things in the midst of packing up is beyond me! enjoy your first weekend at your new house!!

    Reply
  32. Kevin says

    October 18, 2007 at 6:45 pm

    That looks really good. I really am going to have to try some candied ginger.

    Reply
  33. Nan says

    October 18, 2007 at 9:11 pm

    Wow, that looks good. This is one of my first visits to your site, and I will certainly be coming back. I love that the last few posts feature baked items with gooey toppings dripping off them, haha! You sure know how to hook those readers!

    Reply
  34. Porche says

    October 18, 2007 at 11:08 pm

    The number of cake pans, sheet pans, cookie cutters, pie plates, Pyrex, molds, cutters, forms, rolling pins, tart pans, tartlette pans, cookbooks, etc.. I have cake decorating supplies I know I have somewhere, but can’t find after moving. Hmmm….. I have is really beyond the comprehension of most people. You, Peabody, I think would understand my collection. Good luck with your move!

    Reply
  35. Porche says

    October 18, 2007 at 11:09 pm

    Must be time to go to bed. Too many errors in my last post. 🙂

    Reply
  36. Tarah says

    October 19, 2007 at 7:50 am

    For some odd reason, I’m having trouble viewing your posts :[

    The pictures are not showing up; It’s saddens me because I want to see you beautiful creations :]

    And…
    21 boxes???!
    Oh my goodness XD

    Reply
  37. Ashley says

    October 19, 2007 at 8:11 am

    Another delicious looking dessert! And wow I am so jealous that you have 21 boxes of cookbooks!

    Reply
  38. Kelly-Jane says

    October 19, 2007 at 11:29 am

    Stunning cake! I’ve ordered the PQ Christmas from amazon.com (as opposed to .uk)and am waiting patiently for it to arrive. It’s not available here for a few weeks yet… I even keener to get it now!

    Reply
  39. Beth G says

    October 19, 2007 at 6:45 pm

    That looks INCREDIBLE!! I have been barred from buying any more cookbooks until we have a bigger place, but I’m going to have to get that, I’ll keep at work if I must! 🙂 Hooray for PEARS!

    Reply
  40. Ivonne says

    October 20, 2007 at 6:39 pm

    If you were a guy I’d marry you. That’s because you are clearly my cookbook soulmate. I thought I was the only one that bought cookbooks like a fiend. But clearly I’m not.

    I could totally use some of this cake right now … I’ve got a huge frown on my face thanks to the debacle that is The Toronto Maple Leafs.

    Sigh.

    Reply
  41. Kristen says

    October 25, 2007 at 6:49 pm

    Oh how delicious!

    Reply
  42. kate says

    October 27, 2007 at 12:02 pm

    wow that is one divine looking cake.i really mean it. it looks so moist and light and with that lovely sauce dripping down …oooh ! fantastic shot. really does full justice to the cake.

    Reply
  43. lydia hamre says

    October 31, 2007 at 3:36 pm

    I’m out browsing food blogs and I happen upon your site…My mouth dropped open with the picture of your upside down cake. This doesn’t always happen to me and I must say that your picture spoke to my craving taste buds. This is going to be whipped up in my kitchen soon.

    Cheers,

    Lydia H.

    Reply
  44. Jutta says

    December 9, 2007 at 1:32 pm

    Congratulations for winning the DMBLGIT November 2007 – you really deserve it. Great picture! And of course, a wonderful cake.

    Reply
  45. Judy in Florida says

    December 21, 2007 at 5:59 pm

    What a scrumptious looking cake. I can’t wait to try it. I have over 500 cookbooks, lost track. Way to many for me. I only use a certain few.
    Will try this cake for sure, thanks!!

    Reply

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