Animated Eats: The Upside Down Flint-Rubble Double Bubble Cake

If you lived in Ottawa at any point in the 80s, you saw one of these cartoons on CJOH at noon - the underrated "Rocket Robin Hood", retro "Spider-Man", or the classic Hanna-Barbera creation "The Flintstones". One of my most cherished childhood memories is of me coming home from school and watching Fred and Barney's pre-historic adventures while eating a hot dog my mom made me for lunch.  On this day back in 1961, the episode "In the Dough" featured Fred and Barney posing as their wives in order to win a baking competition. The recipe used was for a dessert their wives dubbed the upside-down Flint-Rubble bubble cake. As the actual recipe for this was just a part of animated lore, one would assume that if it existed, it would show that the cake was baked in a single pan with its toppings (some sort of chopped or sliced fruits) on the bottom of the pan before the batter is poured in to form a baked-on topping after the cake is inverted - hence it being “upside-down”. To pay tribute to this cartoon cake, I decided to post a recipe from another childhood memory of mine - looking through my mom's copy of The all new Purity Cook Book: A Complete Guide of Canadian Cooking. I always loved the picture of the pineapple upside-down cake they used, and I was crushed when I saw they used a black and white photo for the reproduction of the original 1967 edition I have. So yabba-dabba-doo yourself a favour, and celebrate this day in TV food history by making this as a St. Patrick's Day dessert; if you insist on having a wee bit o' the green, you sticklers can use green Maraschino cherries in the recipe below.

Ingredients:

pineapple rings (fresh or canned, your choice)
Maraschino cherries (optional)
1 egg
250 mL milk
5 mL vanilla
200 g white sugar
190 g flour
100 g brown sugar, lightly packed
65 g shortening (butter or margarine can be substitistied as technically any fat that’s used in baking is considered “shortening”)
40 g butter or margarine
10 g baking powder
5 g salt

1. Preheat the oven to 176°C. Melt the 40 g butter/margarine and pour it in a 20 x 20 cm baking pan.
2. Sprinkle the brown sugar on what's in the baking pan, then cover it with the pineapple rings; if desired, place a cherry on the center on the rings.
3. In a bowl, combine the remaining sugar and whatever you are using for shortening, then add the egg and the vanilla. Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.
4. Blend together the flour, baking powder, and the salt in a separate bowl. Add the contents to the first bowl, then mix everything together. Pour in the milk and then mix again.
5. Pour the batter over the contents of the baking pan. Bake in the oven for 40-50 minutes. Once the cake is done, invert it onto a serving plate immediately. Serve warm.

Dining During The Coronapocalypse

It took only a matter of weeks for the coronavirus to go from being a punchline about Mexican beer to panic about a global pandemic. With quarantines and self-isolation being recommended by health officials as ways to control the spread of the virus, an industry that thrives on people getting together like the restaurant industry does is encountering a serious problem. The colder months are usually a slow period at the best of times, and in an industry known for low-profit margins, there is a good chance that one of your favorite eateries may not outlast the outbreak. Some establishments have adapted by no longer accepting reusable cups in an effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19; some places are moving to digital payment only; a lot of restaurants who don't already have some sort of delivery may be forced into doing so. As dining establishments adjust to these extraordinary circumstances, we must change as well. Here are some tips to help guide us through this new normal:

• People working in restaurants have a tendency to work when they're sick - please don't do this now. I understand that people need to work to order pay their bills, but if someone shows symptoms of the coronavirus and they still head out to work, they aren't helping anyone, especially themselves. If you are in such a position, tell team members who are not feeling well to stay home (yes, I know it's not easy running a restaurant, let alone one with less staff, but remember I'm just some asshole who doesn't want to get sick when he goes out to eat, so cut me some slack). Any restaurant that forces its employees to work when they are ill should be outed and shamed on social media -  the internet never forgets.
• Tip generously if you are dining out. Remember, a lot of people in the food service industry make minimum wage, and as fewer people head out to eat, everyone’s paycheque is going to be smaller. 
• Don't no-show your reservations at the restaurant you booked. If you can’t make it, call the restaurant and cancel; this is just good etiquette, like washing your hands, and covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough.
• Consider buying a gift card from your favourite local coffee shop, or restaurant. It's a great way to show you're there for them now and in the future. If you’re torn between a chain restaurant and your favourite smaller spot, consider supporting a local business. Chances are that burger or fast food joint will be able to survive a few months of slumping sales, that little place around the corner you go for brunch at, not so much.
• Start lobbying the municipal, provincial, and federal government for whatever payroll and tax breaks for small businesses they can give you. Politicians always say they work for the people, now is as good a time as any to start holding their feet to the fire about that promise.
• Finally, let's remember that the people who cook, serve, sell, or deliver our food are human beings who are dealing with the stress of this epidemic too. There's no reason to get mad at your server or the delivery person because all the stores are out of toilet paper. If you know anyone who’s struggling during this time, reach out and show care and concern. The only way we're going to get through this is by sticking together and helping each other.