Upside - Down Apple Cake

Photo: flickr user JoePhoto

Ingredients

3 Granny Smith or other tart cooking apples

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

1/4 cup butter

1 (16 oz.) pkg. golden pound cake mix

2 eggs, for use in cake mix

2 teaspoons grated orange peel (optional)

Preparation

Core apples, cut into slices. Toss with lemon juice and spice. Melt butter in a 10 inch cast iron or oven proof skillet. Remove from heat. Stir in brown sugar. Arrange apple slices in skillet in circular pattern. Pour in any juice remaining in bowl.

Mix cake mix according to package directions, using the 2 eggs; add peel if desired. Pour batter over apples. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool completely in pan before turning onto platter. Serve with vanilla ice cream.