Pineapple Upside Down Cake

My neighbor Cathy came over for dinner tonight and afterwards we baked TWO pineapple upside down cakes; one for Cathy's adult twirling team and one for us to share. Oh they smell so good!

For topping:

· 1 can sliced pineapple, reserve juice for batter

· 3/4 stick unsalted butter

· 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

For batter:

· 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

· 2 to 3 teaspoons ground cardamom

· 2 teaspoons baking powder

· 1/4 teaspoon salt

· 3/4 stick unsalted butter, softened

· 1 cup granulated sugar

· 2 large eggs

· 1 teaspoon vanilla

· 1 tablespoon dark rum

· 1/2 cup pineapple juice

· 2 tablespoons dark rum for sprinkling over cake

Special equipment:

· a well-seasoned 10-inch cast-iron skillet

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Make topping:
Cut pineapple crosswise into 3/8-inch-thick pieces. Melt butter in skillet. Add brown sugar and simmer over moderate heat, stirring, 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Arrange pineapple on top of sugar mixture in concentric circles, overlapping pieces slightly.

Make batter:
Sift together flour, cardamom, baking powder, and salt. Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, then gradually beat in granulated sugar. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and rum. Add half of flour mixture and beat on low speed just until blended. Beat in pineapple juice, then add remaining flour mixture, beating just until blended. (Batter may appear slightly curdled.)

Spoon batter over pineapple topping and spread evenly. Bake cake in middle of oven until golden and a tester comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let cake stand in skillet 5 minutes. Invert a plate over skillet and invert cake onto plate (keeping plate and skillet firmly pressed together). Replace any pineapple stuck to bottom of skillet. Sprinkle rum over cake and cool on plate on a rack.

Serve cake just warm or at room temperature.