Banana Pineapple Cake
My mom was not exactly a cook. At least for the early part of my childhood. I have many memories of her producing dried out pork chops that would take half an hour to chew before each swallow. As I got older, her skills as a cook definitely improved, but it was never her forte. In fact, she had a cross stitch that she made framed on the wall that read, “Kitchen Closed. I’m Sick of Cooking!”
She was, however, a baker. Some of my fondest memories of my mom were our Saturdays, when she would spend all day in the kitchen, working on cakes or breads. I loved watching her and helping when I could. When I was back home in New York two summers ago, I found her binder of recipes, full of clippings and scribbles, along with letters from family. This recipe for Banana Pineapple Cake was one she actually had time to transfer to an index card, in her neatest handwriting. In the binder, I also found a letter from my aunt who told my mom how much she missed this cake of hers. It was one of her signature desserts. I’m not sure the origin of the recipe, but for me, it’s my mom’s.
I finally had a chance last night to bake it. As luck would have it (or poor planning on my part), my camera battery died when I plated the cake! Tom, Caeli and I devoured a huge chunk; we just couldn’t wait, it was that good. I did manage to take a photo this morning. Note the [huge] missing chunk.
Here is the recipe; hope you enjoy it as much as we did. For me, it was like being with my mom again, if only for just a moment. Funny how food can do that.[/donotprint]
Banana Pineapple Cake
3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3 slightly beaten eggs
2 cups mashed bananas
1 cup cooking oil
1 can (8¼ oz) crushed pineapple
1½ tsp vanilla
In a mixing bowl, thoroughly stir together the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Combine eggs, bananas, oil, undrained pineapple, and vanilla; add all at once to dry ingredients, stirring until well moistened.
Pour batter into a greased and floured 10 in fluted tube pan. Bake in a 350° oven for 65 to 70 minutes. Cool in pan 15 minutes, then remove and cool on wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze.
It’s a great photo and sounds like a keeper recipe!
Liren replied: — February 6th, 2010 @ 9:46 pm
Thanks, Cristina! It’s definitely a keeper — such a fast recipe, I was able to throw it in the oven in under 10 minutes :)
Blanche Rueda replied: — February 18th, 2010 @ 8:39 am
I am Cheryl’s Mother, Cheryl is your neighbor and this morning
she was raving about your blog. The banana pineapple cake
sounds great. Next to surf your blog.
Blanche Rueda
kitchenworthy replied: — February 18th, 2010 @ 8:31 pm
Hi! Welcome to my site — I’m so glad you dropped by. The blog is still so new, but it’s been a lot of fun. Visit again soon! And yes, the cake is wonderful. I may have to make more this weekend since I have so many ripe bananas to use up.
This cake looks amazing! I don’t know if I have seen a banana AND pineapple cake before, but I really want a piece of it. The story is absolutely lovely, too. Hope you really enjoy your cake.
kitchenworthy replied: — February 8th, 2010 @ 7:09 pm
Thank you, Astrid! This cake is like a dressed up banana bread — those little chunks of pineapple are a nice surprise :)
I never used banana-pineapple combination, but it sounds like a natural choice, must taste very tropical :-). A very nice recipe – thank you! And the picture is so professional :-)
kitchenworthy replied: — February 9th, 2010 @ 1:53 pm
So true, it does taste very tropical! Maybe next time I should try making a coconut flavored glaze! Hmmm…
Ooo, the combination of banana and pineapple must be fantastic! I would love to try this!
kitchenworthy replied: — February 10th, 2010 @ 10:52 pm
Definitely try it! It’s so simple and tasty!
I loved this post. Made me remember your mom too. I’m thinking I must have eaten this cake of hers at one time back in the day. Keep the posts coming.
kitchenworthy replied: — February 10th, 2010 @ 10:53 pm
Thank you, Julie :) It’s nice to remember through food, isn’t it?
I know what you mean when you say food makes you feel close to certain people or relate to certain people…it is the same for me when I make all the foods my mom cooked when I was a kid…now she is in another continent but I do feel close to her and relive all those old memories!
great space here…keep bloggin’
Liren replied: — March 25th, 2010 @ 10:41 am
Hi Meena, I certainly do relate memories to recipes and food. I feel as though whenever I cook an old favorite, it’s like visiting the person that relates to the dish! I’m so pleased you like my blog – hope you visit again soon!
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