My grandmother loved sweets. There was never an occasion that wasn’t appropriate to enjoy a cookie or a slice of cake. It was quite appropriate, in her opinion, to have a tiny amount of dinner just to have room for a delicious dessert. I think we all inherited a bit of a sweet tooth from my grandmother. Actually, a lightbulb went off yesterday when reading a post on Green Kitchen Stories about the Swedish tradition of fika. It would seem that our sweet tooths might have something to do with our Swedish heritage. As I read the post I thought it couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time.My grandmother, or Maw Maw as we called her, passed away two years ago yesterday. It seems that one of the best ways to remember her is to sit down and enjoy some sweets. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but it’s usually best to share it with loved ones. And, if my siblings are there, it’s also best to smear chocolate on your teeth and smile like nothing is wrong. When I read about fika yesterday, I thought that perhaps I should partake in it in honor of Maw Maw. A storm blew in bringing chilly weather so it was the perfect opportunity to bake a little something sweet.
Instead of the traditional sweet bread that is enjoyed during fika, I decided to use up the last of my strawberries and make some strawberry upside down cakes. I am starting to realize that I lean towards making mini or individual sized treats as of late (see here and here). I think it’s because they are so much easier to eat and store. Or, maybe I think they are more attractive. Anyways, let’s get back to these cakes. The cake itself is rather simple. It’s flavored with vanilla bean and made super moist with applesauce. The relatively plain cake is the perfect canvas for the sweet and juicy strawberries. Because it seemed quite fitting, I decided to enjoy mine on a saucer I had given to my grandmother years ago. I like to think she was right there with me enjoying hers, too.
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