My sister just sent me this recipe that her husband had pointed out to her from a Better Homes and Garden magazine - don't know which month, but probably a recent one. He requested this for his birthday cake and she said it was wonderful. It uses FRESH pineapple not canned.

FRESH PINEAPPLE/CARROT UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 TBSP butter
1 TBSP water
6 to 8 thin slices FRESH pineapple, cored and HALVED.
2 cups all purpose flour
1 TBSP baking POWDER
1/2 tsp salt*
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg*
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cups FINELY shredded carrots.

1. Preheat oven. Lightly coat 9x9 pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In small saucepan combine brown sugar, 2TBSP butter, and water. Stir and heat til just bubbling and smooth. Pour into prepared pan, lay pineapple slices over it to cover bottom of pan.

3.In medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg. Set aside

4. In lg mixing bowl beat 1/2 cup butter on medium high for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, beat til combined. Beat 2 mins more. Gradually add eggs, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. Alternately add flour and milk, beating on low after each addition just until well combined. Stir in carrots, spread over pineapple mixture in pan.

5. Bake 45 mins or until toothpick comes out clean. Top was a very pale golden but sides were slightly browner and pulled away from sides of the pan. Cool pan on rack FIVE MINUTES...Invert on platter. If you wait too long to invert, pineapple/brown sugar mixture will adhere to pan bottom, wrecking the whole plan!! Cool 30 mins.

*NOTE: I upped the salt slightly because I only use unsalted butter, and I upped the nutmeg slightly also, because it is the only spice.

ENJOY! Top slices with a dollop of French vanilla cool whip. Real whipped cream would of course be wonderful. I think the THIN slicing of the fresh pineapple is crucial.

You tend to always think of a carrot cake as a darker spicier type mix...this is a light, butter cake, where the carrots show! Very good and moist.