Plum Upside Down Cake

How many variations of plum desserts are there? We're well on our way to finding out.. This time my childhood best friend was visiting and we whipped up a plum upside down cake - with only minor burns ensuing. The plums created a delicious pseudo frosting and the sponge cake was perfect.

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart and Drizzle and Dip

Ingredients
10-12 red or purple plums
6 Tbsp. butter
9 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
4 eggs
1/2 tsp. almond extract

Directions

1. Cut plums into quarters and remove pits. heat 6 Tbsp. butter in a large saute pan over medium heat until it sizzles. Add plums and cook for 2-3 minutes.
2. Add 9 Tbsp. sugar and cinnamon. Cook stirring frequently, 10-15 minutes. Remove fruit with a slotted spoon and transfer to a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Remove pan from heat and save syrup.
3. Butter and flour a 9 1/2 by 2 inch round cake pan. Arrange cut fruit with cut edges down. 
4. Return syrup to medium heat and boil until thick with large bubbles. Immediately pour over fruit and set aside.a
5. Preheat oven to 325. Beat 1 c. butter and 1c. sugar until light and fluffy. Add almond extract and eggs one at a time, allowing to fully combine between each addition.
6. Pour over plums and cook 1 hour.
7. Let cool, run a knife around the outside edge and invert.

Peach Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

I'm on a quinoa craze right now. At first, I was terrified of quinoa. I mean, how do you even say "quinoa" ? As it turns out, it's keen-wah. Regardless, I'm a starch and carb-loving midwesterner at heart. Quinoa wasn't one of my things. Until I tried tabouleh, recipe to follow in weeks to come. Now, I'm on a craze and decided to have it for breakfast with some of our CSA fruits.

Ingredients
1/4 c. quinoa
1/2 c. water
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 peach
hand full of sliced almonds
1 dash cinnamon
1 dash vanilla
2 Tbsp. milk

Directions

1. Mix quinoa and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer for 10-15 minutes until all of the water is evaporated. 
2. Fluff quinoa and move to a separate bowl. Mix in sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and milk. Top with fruit and almonds. Enjoy warm!