That time my dad let me get drunk when I was three....and Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Yeah, you read the title correctly.
I got drunk when I was three years old.
Under parent supervision.

Yeah, I know.
I'm BA like that.

It was New Years Eve.
1984.
My Grandma and Grandpa were hosting their annual New Years bash.
And all of their friends were in attendance.
Along with me and my dad.

My mom is a nurse. She was at work.
So dad was in charge.

Except, we all know what happens when dads bring their kids to their in-laws.

I was free to roam.

Also, I looked something like this.
So cute.
I KNOW.

My grandparents have a bar built into their living room.
As a kid I used to sit at it while my grandpa would mix their Manhattans.
Behind it was a plethora of different shaped and colored bar glasses.
My grandparents used to let me take them out and "play restaurant" serving them on trays.

Anyhoo...
While the adults were socializing, probably loudly, merrily....
New Years Eve at my grandparents was THE place to be.

...many of them left empty glasses, with a few ice cubes, and splash of whatever they were drinking, and a maraschino cherry, right at three-year-old-eye-level.

Maraschino cherries were like three year old gold.
And it was a freaking gold rush.
So, of course, I helped myself.
Threw back the last sips of those Manhattans, chomped on the cherries, and enjoyed the party.

My very responsible dad made sure I got home safe, tucked into bed before midnight, when my mom would be home.

I think my dad and I would have gotten away with it, except, any three year old who eats more than three maraschino cherries, and drinks any alcohol, is NOT going to have an awesome tummy come midnight.

So, a few hours into sleep later, my mom wakes up to her three year old daughter.
Vomiting RED.

And panicked.
She thought I was throwing up blood.
And the interrogations began.

Now, I'm not exactly sure how the story really goes here, but either my dad KNEW what had happened, or they pieced together the bits (I probably smelled like a toddler drunk tank), but let me tell you - my dad has not lived it down.
Twenty seven years later, and this is still a story that gets told at family events.

But seriously, can you blame me?
I love maraschino cherries.
And after that I was only ever allowed to have ONE.
BOO.


So, where does the Pineapple Upside Down Cake come in?
Well, for Christmas, I unwrapped two of these....

I just thought my mom was giving me something practical.
And filling up space under the tree.

Ever year, she also gives my sister and I one really fun, really impractical item from Williams Sonoma.
Two years ago, I got an Ebelskiver pan, last year I got a Breville Pie Maker.

This year.
I got this.

And used those pineapple rings...
and maraschino cherries....

to make these.

And oh, they were, SO. GOOD.

Like.
SOOOOO.
GOOOOOOD.

The cake itself was heavenly.
And the syrup for the bottom - or top when it's flipped over -
1/4 cup pineapple juice, 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, 1 1/4 sticks of butter.
DIVINE.
I may have to recreate that and make myself some macadamia nut pancakes or something to go with it.
Or anything that could be a vehicle for that crazy syrup.

Sadly, I can't find the mix available anywhere online.
I will have to see if they have any in the store.
Because, this pan is going to need to be used again.
ASAP.

Also, moral of the story, make pineapple upside down cake and supervise your children around maraschino cherries.
Also, also, my mother happily gave me the pineapples, but no, she did not give me a jar of cherries for Christmas.
Which is probably better, they wouldn't have lasted past New Years.