Cathy -
Can your fiance eat coconut?
I've got this one - but I can eat nuts and I cannot eat the coconut - so I leave that out:
* 2/3 c brown sugar, packed .
* For the Upside Down Topping .
* 2 tsps baking soda .
* 1/2 c buttermilk .
* 1 (6 oz) jar maraschino cherries .
* For the Glaze .
* 3/4 c vegetable oil .
* 1 1/2 c coconut, grated .(that I leave out)
* 1 tsp vanilla extract .
* 1/2 tsp baking soda .
* 3 eggs, room temperature .
* 2 c granulated sugar .
* 3/4 c buttermilk .
* 1 tbsp light corn syrup .
* 2 tsps vanilla extract .
* 1 1/2 c walnuts, sliced .
* 1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, well drained .
* 1/2 tsp salt .
* For the Carrot Cake .
* 1 c granulated sugar .
* 1 (20 oz) can sliced pineapples, drained .
* 2 c golden raisins, sliced .
* 1/4 c unsalted butter, melted .
* 2 tsps ground cinnamon .
* 2 1/4 c all-purpose flour .
* 4 1/2 c carrots, grated .
* 1/2 c unsalted butter
* Step #1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, then grease & flour a 13"x9" glass baking dish.
* Step #2 FOR THE TOPPING: Spread melted butter evenly into bottom of prepared baking dish.
* Step #3 Sprinkle top brown sugar evenly over melted butter.
* Step #4 Arrange pineapple slices over brown sugar & place a cherry in center of each slice.
* Step #5 FOR THE CAKE: In large bowl, whisk or sift together flour, cinnamon & salt, baking soda, then set aside.
* Step #6 In medium bowl, sugar & vanilla, beat eggs, buttermilk, then add oil, mixing well.
* Step #7 Add egg mixture to dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly.
* Step #8 Stir in crushed pineapple, coconut & raisins, walnuts, carrots, mixing well.
* Step #9 Pour into prepared baking dish & bake this at least 65-70 mins or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.
* Step #10 FOR THE GLAZE: About 10 mins before cake is done, in saucepan mix sugar, baking soda, buttermilk, corn syrup & butter.
* Step #11 Bring to boil & boil 5 mins.
* Step #12 Remove from heat & add vanilla.
* Step #13 Remove cake from oven & with a skewer or knife poke a number of holes into the hot cake, making sure holes reach bottom of cake.
* Step #14 Slowly pour hot glaze over hot cake, carefully spreading it all over cake until it is absorbed.
* Step #15 Let cake cool 15-20 mins on wire rack, then carefully invert it into a 15"x10" baking dish [or onto large platter].
* Step #16 Refrigerate when completely cooled.