Dessert

By Keith N Fisher

Why do so many people say Desert is the best course? Others want to start with desert so they don’t run out of room in their belly. Last Friday evening we had the opportunity to make desert in Dutch ovens at the ward camp out. I had to work both Friday and Saturday, so Camping was out of the question.

We showed up about six-fifteen, cooked out the back of the truck and had three 14-inch cobblers and three turtle cakes ready in time for the program. After getting compliments I said to one lady that she could’ve done just as good a job as we did. She said, Maybe so, but I don’t as many Dutch ovens as you do.

It’s true though, There are many folks in my ward who could make terrific deserts in Dutch ovens but we get asked to do the honors, (I’m sure) because the leadership feels we need the opportunity. Our food gets built up out of proportion because we had the good fortune to win at the World Championships once.

But I digress.

Speaking of which, though, In all those years of competition, one of the things I remember most was listening to the admiration about desert from spectators. Personally, I admire meat, but I always heard wows when someone presented a cheesecake or a three-layer cake. Removing a pie from a hot Dutch oven without a pie plate was sure to please a crowd.

Taste, however, is the issue. You can burn the meat, or add too much salt to the bread, but if the cake tastes flat, nobody wants to eat it.

With all the joy desert brings, I still find it interesting that desert intimidates many people. Here’s a simple recipe to try.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

In a 12-inch Dutch oven, melt ¼ pound of butter. Toss in a couple of hands full of brown sugar. Arrange canned pineapple rings on top of the sugar with one in the center. Fill each hole with a maraschino cherry (no stem). Next, make a white or yellow cake mix. Pour over the pineapple. Note: if a cherry pops up, push it back down with your finger.

Now use nine coals in a ring under the pot, (none in the center). 15 coals on top (Checkerboard pattern). The cake is done when a toothpick, inserted, comes out clean. Let cake cool with lid ajar. Using gloves, flip oven over quickly and catch the cake unto a rack or plate. The pineapple and cherries are on the top.

If this last part doesn’t work, don’t worry. It tastes great inside the pot. I once had an accident and the cake fell apart when I flipped it. We ate what didn’t land on the floor.