Great Pumpkins, Charlie Brown!

The holiday is upon us, and people are getting excited about pumpkin-based food and drink. Of course, by the end of the year, people will be truly tired of pumpkin in just about everything, but for now, we can rejoice in the love of these gorgeous gourds!

 

Last night, I went on a cooking binge and did a few experiments. My dinner consisted of some store-bought crepes that I spread with a mixture of puréed pumpkin and sour cream. Then, I sautéed some leeks with garlic, sage, white wine, and roasted chicken. Altogether stuffed inside a crepe, these make a great savory treat!

But today, I’ve given into my weakness for sweetness, and worked with some fresh plums supplied from my girlfriend’s mother to come up with a delicious treat. Hopefully, I’ll find several people to help me finish it.

Pumpkin Plum Upside-Down Cake

1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 T brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
4-6 plums, sliced
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs
5 oz Greek vanilla yogurt
1 1/4 cups organic pumpkin purée
2 cups flour
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t (each) allspice, nutmeg, ginger

Pre-heat oven to 350.

Melt 1 stick of butter in a cast iron skillet on low heat. Add brown and white sugars, and stir to melt together. Place the slices of plum in concentric circles around the pan and allow them to caramelize in the mixture for couple of minutes, then remove from heat.

Cream the rest of the butter and sugar in a mixer until smooth. Then, add eggs one at a time.

Add in yogurt and pumpkin and blend until well incorporated.

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Then add slowly to the rest of the mix. 

Spoon the cake batter over the plum mixture, and carefully spread it across the pan.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes until set. Let sit for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving platter.

Enjoy with some vanilla ice cream.