Lemon Upside Down Cake

I have always seen recipes for these and always wanted to try them. They are so beautifully presented. This time I found this recipe for a Lemon Upside Down Cake on the AZ Cookbook site. I immediatly bought some lemons and made this cake. It was soo delicious. Not too sweet, a little tart, and so fluffy. Perfect if you like lemons or with a cup of lemon tea. Yum... Now, go buy some lemons and make this now!!! :)

Lemon Upside-Down Cake
Adapted, barely, from Luscious Lemon Desserts, by Lori Longbotham

From: AZ Cookbook

Here is what you will need:

3 medium lemons
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
2 large eggs, separated
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk

1. Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350F.

2.Trim the ends from the lemons and cut the fruit into slices 1/8 inch thick with a very sharp knife or a mandolin. Discard any seeds.

3. Melt 1/4 cup of the butter with the brown sugar in a, non-stick 10-inch skillet over medium heat.

4. Add the lemon slices, increase the heat to high, and boil, stirring, for 1 minute.

5. Remove the skillet from the heat and arrange the slices of lemon in an orderly pattern in the bottom of the skillet (if you are using an ovenproof skillet or into a springform pan)

6. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl.

7. Beat the remaining 1/2 cup of butter with an electric mixer on medium speed in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the granulated sugar and zest and beat, scraping down the side of the bowl until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks and vanilla and beat just until blended. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture alternatively with the milk, scraping down the side of the bowl after each addition and beating just until blended.

8. Beat the egg whites with clean beaters on medium speed in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. Add one quarter of the whites to the batter and fold in using a whisk or a rubber spatula. Continue to gently fold in the whites, one quarter at a time, being careful no to overmix.

10. Pour the batter over the lemon slices and gently smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until the top is golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

Loosen the edges of the cake with a rubber spatula all around, invert it onto a heat-proof serving platter, and leave the pan over the cake for 5 minutes. If using a springform pan, remove the "sides" of the pan first then let cool for 5 minutes and remove the "bottom" of the pan gently while loosening the lemon slices from the pan with a spatula. Remove the pan and serve the cake warm, cut into wedges.