We had a rule in our house growing up. No one(meaning us kids) was allowed to sleep in past 10am. If we dare do this my father would have us greet the day by Scotland the Brave being blasted through the house. Being a teenager, I relished my sleep and so I heard that damn song over and over and over again throughout my teenage years. So much so that I grew to hate that song.
Now you are probably thinking, no problem, you don’t hear that song all that much. Well, when your father is in a pipe band you sure do. A lot. You hear him practice it. You hear the band play it. You hear it in the car because your dad plays Scottish bag pipe music everywhere you go in the car(still does). There was a brief period when I was encouraged to play the bagpipes and went to practice with my dad(it didn’t take), you heard it then of course. Every year we would go to the Scottish Highland Games, you would hear it there. A lot.
It became a joke in the family how much I grew to hate that song. Heck, my parents housewarming card to me had a little piper on it and when you opened the card up it played, you guessed it, Scotland the Brave. Bastards. 🙂
Though I must admit that I do have it on my Ipod and I don’t really hate it all that much anymore(could be not hearing it at 10am every morning). See, it reminds me of my dad, and well, nothing that reminds me of my dad can be bad right? I’m definitely a Daddy’s girl. My mom is my best friend, but I’m a Daddy’s girl. When I was about to be born my father told the doctor, “if it’s not a girl, send it back”. My dad already had two boys at that point…plus he knew girls are just better. Lucky for him he ended up with a girl. And even more lucky for him he ended up with me. 😛
My dad is off of sugar right now(I know, the horror!). But I still made him a virtual dessert. One we had a lot growing up, pineapple upside down cake. Mine is different than what we had growing up, but the flavors are pretty much the same…that and mine is made with fresh pineapple.
Happy Father’s Day to all that applies to and a special Happy Father’s Day to my kilt wearing Pop(love you Dad!).
Or if you prefer something savory for Dad, how about a nice Smoked Salmon, Leek and Goat Cheese Quiche?
Coconut Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Coconut Yellow Cake
2 cups all-purpose flour, stirred before measuring
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 tsp coconut extract
1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
Mix flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. Cream sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl, beating until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add half of the flour mixture then half of the milk.
Add vanilla and coconut extract. Mix until blended; add remaining flour and milk and beat until smooth. Fold in the coconut.
For the Pineapple:
1 medium pineapple, chopped into chunks
1 cup of firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
Take brown sugar and butter and combine and melt in a saucepan on medium heat until sugar dissolves and the mixture is bubbly, 2-3 minutes. Pour mixture into a 10 inch diameter cake pan(that has been greased and floured)with 2 inch high sides. Arrange pineapple chunks in a single layer on top of the brown sugar mixture.
Pour batter over the the brown sugar mixture and pineapple.
Place cake middle of the oven and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan on a rack for 15 minutes, run a thin knife around the edge, and invert the cake onto a plate.
rachel says
I love pineapple and coconut together so this sounds perfect!
VeggieGirl says
No sugar??? Ah well – I hope that your dad truly enjoys your virtual dessert :0)
brilynn says
For me, it’s the accordion that drives me crazy… I lived in France for a few months on exchange when I was in high school and two of the kids in the family played the accordion, and they enjoyed doing so at ridiculously early hours, right beneath my bedroom window. I hated it.
Lynn says
Oh, how sweet! I love that picture of you and your dad. It’s amazing how the things that annoy you so much when you live at home you kind of miss when you move away.
Aran says
what a sweet daughter you are… hahaha… i happen to love back pipes… they give me goosebumps but i agree… 10 in the mornin might be a bit too much, especially when you are a teenager…
Susan at StickyGooeyCreamyChewy says
That’s a lovely cake, Peabody, and a lovely tribute to your father! I had to laugh at your story. My Dad was a whistler. He’d whistle up and down the hall early every morning until we all woke up. It drove me nuts! As an adult, my office was down the hall from his in our office building. Again, he would whistle up and down the hall everytime he came or went. Annoying! Now that he’s gone, I really miss that whistling! He’s probably up there right now, whistling in old St. Peter’s ear, driving him crazy too! 😉
noble pig says
That is a really cute story! I’m sure he loved his virtual meal. I know I did.
Tina Tessina says
Your proud papa sent this to me. I had no idea you were such a great writer! Even though I’m only a cousin-by-marriage, writing must run in the family. Keep up the good work!
love,
Tina B. Tessina
share the love at “Dr Romance” Blog http://drromance.typepad.com/dr_romance_blog/
bunny says
i love the picture of you and your dad!! my father is also gone and i miss him very much.
Steph says
Yum! I’ve actually been dying to bake an upside down pineapple cake for ages, but I haven’t been able to pick up a nice fresh pineapple from the supermarket. For something like upside down pineapple cake where pineapple is the main flavour contributer, a fresh pineapple would probably make a huge difference. Your cake looks lovely and not at all soggy
manggy says
Fresh pineapple, now that’s just showing off!!! 😛 It looks lovely– I’m sure your dad is loving it and kicking himself right now!
I love Scottish garb. It looks so regal. An Asian guy with thin legs would probably not be the best fit for it but if anyone’s inviting, I’m wearing one! 😀
Every time we’re in the car my dad wants me to play Lauren Christy’s “Colour of the Night” on my iPod. I hate that it is among my “Most Played” list. But the things we do for love!
gaga says
Aww, that’s a super cute story and a scrumptious looking cake. Yum!
Kate says
Awwww, its funny how things we hated growing up make us so nostalgic once we actually are grown up.
cakebrain says
Your cake looks so moist and yummy!
Dolores says
Your dad’s tartan was once my high school uniform. And we occasionally square dance to Scotland the Brave. 🙂
Happy fathers day to you and your dad!
Rosa says
Your cake looks fabulous! Very fluffy and delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa
Jeff says
Do you make your husband wear a kilt? I bet he’d LOVE that 😉
standing still says
Oh. My. God. Pipes in the family. Scottish Festivals? Required!? I am SO jealous. Beauty cake, too.
Holly says
Love your site!
Thought you might want to know about this site, if you don’t already. It seems to be like Tastespotting was. I loved that site!
http://foodgawker.com/
I learned of it from Jen @ use real butter:
http://jenyu.net/blog/
Happy Cook says
That pineapple cake looks delicious.
Here we have a concert every year on November 11th with bagpipers, i do go for it every year, not that i am a huge fanof the instrument.
My daugher is also daddy’s girl, whick make me go green with envy, just kidding i love that my daughter is daddy’d girl.
Lisa says
I love that picture of you and your dad! And a great tribute to him and the Scottish Bagpipers out there. hee!
I heart pineapple upside down cake.. bet yours is divine!
Also.. Happy blog birthday, Gracie! Love you!
xoxo
Elle says
Having not grown up with it (nor been wakend by it) I love bagpipe music.That is a great photo…you get your Dad’s good looks…and a great Father’s Day post. Yummy upside down cake, too. Thank you for the virtual serving…it was delish!
Kristen says
What a cool dad you have! I love that photo!
Melinda says
There was a displaced Scot when I was at Nursing School in Portland. The guy would play his bagpipes at 6am!
They have never endeared me since.
But you gotta love your Dad. At least he waited until after 10am!
Pineapple upside down cake is always in fashion. Coconut cake for the cake sounds inspired!
Mrs. L says
Ah yes, those little tricks to get us non morning folks up out of bed! Every time I hear about a Pineapple Upside Down cake I think of the Rita Rudner skit…too funny.
kellypea says
Cute photo, peabody. Way. I cannot imagine the music, but do love bagpipes. We had them at my lovely father in law’s 70th and it reduced him to a teary-eyed mess. It was funny. The upside down virtual cake looks delish!
steph (whisk/spoon) says
your dad is so cool!! i did my junior year abroad in edinburgh. i fell in love with all things scottish, including kilts and pipes, and have a decent collection of pipe & drum CDs myself.
and pineapple upside-down cake…mmmm!
Judy says
From one Daddy’s girl to another…the cake looks totally yummy and I plan to make it to take to my Father who is now in a nursing home.
My Dad can still reduce me to feeling like a 3year old, wanting to climb up on his knee and love him.
Luv the pic. of you and your Daddy!
giz says
I had a good laugh about “Scotland the Brave”. Psychgrad’s sig other is/was a piper and although I really love the pipes, I can’t imagine that ANY of the neighbours would appreciate hearing and seeing him pace the back yard. I do have to admit, he’s pretty good even if he isn’t playing in the pipe band anymore.
Victoria says
I, too, am a daddy’s girl, so hearing your story was great. I am new to this blog, and I must tell you…it is awesome.
I love to bake, so it is awesome to have recipes AND pictures!
My dad loves pineapple and coconut, so I will definitely have to make this for him.
Thanks for all the recipes!
Tartelette says
What I love about this cake is that I can make it and eat it all by myself since they all declared “not liking” coconut…:)
CapriciousCat says
Hi Peabody,
I’ve been perusing your blog, after having stumbled on it quite by accident. I love it! I especially love the story you told about your father and his bagpipes. It sounds exactly like something my father would have done, if he had owned a set of pipes. I still really wish I had bought him three things while he was still alive: a model train set, a kilt, and bagpipes. My father was half-Scottish, half-English and first-generation Canadian. (I’m second-generation Canadian.) He virtually ignored his English half; he was so proud of his Scottish roots! (I am too, naturally.) Even though he’s just a memory, I’m still a Daddy’s girl at heart. Thanks for the blog. I’m sure I’ll visit here often looking for ideas. You sound like you have a wonderful life. All the best!
Candace says
What a cute picture! I almost peed my pants at a wedding where the bag pipers started playing right next to me. I had no idea they were SO LOUD! It was deafening… but lovely when heard from a (long) distance!
Patricia Scarpin says
I love that photo! You and your father look so happy and adorable!
My dad was both mom and dad to me and my brother while growing up, so I’m a daddy’s girl too, Pea.
I used to make that kind of cake a lot when I started baking, but haven’t made it again in years.
Deborah says
I’m a daddy’s girl, too. What a great photo of you two!
I don’t think I’ve ever tried a pineapple upside down cake with fresh pineapple – I bet that was amazing!
David says
You really look like a daddy’s girl in the photo, but my word doesn’t your daddy look proud to have you on his arm.
I too have a little girl that I’m so proud of (her name is Kimberly, and she’s four years old)
She is also into kilts, and if you would like to know why, you can have a look at her daddy’s web site at
http://www.your-kilt.com
Your cake looks delicious, thanks for sharing the recipe.
Kind Regards,
David.
emiglia says
Aww… that’s such a sweet story! I’m sure your dad appreciates his virtual dessert, even if he can’t eat it.
Melody says
What a great twist on the classic! Love the photo too!
Holly @ PheMOMenon says
That cake looks awesome – and so does your Dad!
Jaime says
PUDC is one of my favorite cakes! and fresh pineapple? yum!
your dad would not approve of my sleep habits. i had the day off today and slept in til 1pm 😛
Psychgrad says
My boyfriend is a piper. I still have nightmares about his Pipes and Drum tape. The high A makes my skin crawl! Thankfully, we’ve always lived in an apartment, so he can’t play the pipes inside. But, the practise chanter is pretty annoying too.
Mari says
This looks divine! I love pineapple upside down cake, but the addition of coconut must make it a tropical dream cake! I’ve got 2 coveted bags of sweetened shredded coconut in my cabinet that my mom sent over in my birthday box (there is none to be found in the NL) and this recipe has inspired me to get one out of the cupboard and use it!