Upendo Mananasi

One of my favorite things about the food in Kenya is the pineapples! They are infinitely better than any pineapple I have ever had in America, because they are SO much sweeter! If you are wondering, "upendo mananasi" means "I love pineapples" in Swahili.  Last year when I came to Kenya, Margaret, who lives at Naomi's Village with her husband Bonface (who is one of the wisest men I know, for those of you that know him I'm sure you agree), baked this incredible pineapple upside down cake!  Kenyan pineapple plus cake is just a recipe of perfection! So when I arrived this year, I asked Margaret if she would teach me how to bake this heavenly creation so that I could attempt to make it back in the States!  Abby (who is the girl I am living with at Naomi's) and I made it with her a few days back, and it turned out even better than expected!

Here's the breakdown of this delicious treat...

Margaret's Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup oil
1 cup and 2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs

Instructions
1. Combine the dry ingredients in one bowl and mix.

2. Combine the wet ingredients in a separate bowl and stir until well mixed.

3. Combine the mixtures together in one of the bowls.
4. Layer the bottom of a greased baking pan with pineapple and pour the mixture over top.

5. Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees F.
6. Enjoy :)

The finished product!

I'm certain that I will never be able to make one this good back in the States, but I'll at least have to try once I return home!

And who doesn't love baking with a beautiful view like this right outside the window!