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The Best Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake Recipe! Mixes up in 5 min!

All things FALL, Dawn's House, Most Recent, Recipe Box

Why start from scratch when this Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake comes out so perfectly!! With a spice cake mix as the base, plus pudding, pumpkin and sour cream, it comes together in five minutes but is the MOST MOIST pumpkin spice bundt cake you’ll have this fall!

Every time I serve this or bring it to a gathering I am asked for the recipe, so you might want to plan ahead and bring a few copies with you! ;)

This is my trusty 12 cup bundt cake pan. I bought it on Amazon for under $15 (I wasn’t sure if this would be a fad or a lifestyle so I didn’t want to invest in a more expensive pan at the time) but it is FOR SURE a lifestyle and I’ve made over 50 bundt cakes in it and it shows NO wear at all! Plus, as long as you let the cake cool for at least 20 minutes, it pops out perfectly every time.

I also purchased these two smaller six cup bundt cake pans because sometimes a WHOLE bundt cake leaves a lot of leftovers if we’re having 10 people or less enjoying it. So I also purchased these on Amazon. I can split any bundt cake mix between the two and it is the perfect size. I usually freeze the second cake if I’m going this route and as long as we eat within a month or so you’d never know that it had been frozen!

But, enough about pans! Once you make this Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake you won’t desire to make anything else pumpkin flavored ever again! It comes out INCREDIBLY MOIST with the perfect balance of pumpkin and spice flavor!

The real trick to making this cake is knowing how long to bake it. In my oven, at the desired 325 degrees, it takes 53 minutes. I had to make it a few times to get it just right, but it was well worth it! You want to take it out right on the edge of a toothpick coming out clean. You’ll leave it sit in the pan for twenty minutes when it is done and it will do just a tiny bit more baking while it is in there.

Look at this beauty!:

One of my FAVORITE things about bundt cakes is how they sit up tall and look so pretty on a cake stand. They have such a nice presence compared to cakes made in a regular cake pan. And no matter how you decide to frost or ice them they work pretty, you can’t mess them up!!

Frosting the Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake

Most often I use store bought cream cheese frosting. This inexpensive one from Aldi is actually my favorite. And I always use a gallon size ziplock bag with the corner cut off so that I can throw it away when I’m done!

If you don’t feel confident about piping the frosting on, you can always warm it up for about 30 seconds. Then give it a good stir and microwave it a little longer if it isn’t “pourable.” Once it is near liquid you can pour it on the cake so that it drizzles down the sides, I’m telling you, you can’t mess up frosting this pumpkin spice bundt cake!! :)

We often use bundt cakes as a center piece when we entertain because they look so great, this pumpkin spice bundt cake being NO exception!

And I know I mentioned it before, but I’m not kidding, if you bring this anywhere people WILL ask you for the recipe, so be prepared! ;)

Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake Recipe

INGREDIENTS:
1-15.25 oz. Spice Cake Mix*
1-3.4 oz. pkg Vanilla Instant Pudding
1 c. Pumpkin Puree
4 Eggs
1/2 c. Warm Water
1/3 c. Vegetable Oil
1/4 c. Sour Cream
1 tsp. Vanilla

DIRECTIONS: Pre-heat oven to 325. Mix all ingredients together in a stand mixer, hand mixer or by hand until well mixed. Pour into well greased bundt cake pan. Bake for 50-70 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out slightly coated but not wet. Remove from oven and let stand in pan for 20 minutes. Invert onto plate or cake stand. Let cool completely before frosting.

*If you can’t find a spice cake mix you can make your own from a yellow cake mix, just follow these instructions!

I truly hope that you enjoy this Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake recipe, and if you like this one, you’d also love this chocolate oreo bundt cake: Piece of Cake Triple Fudge Oreo Bundt Cake

Happy Fall & Happy Baking!

P.S. I almost forgot! Here are a couple other ways that I LOVE to celebrate fall:

Favorite (EASY!) Fall Recipes:

>> Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins (the BEST pumpkin muffins you’ll ever taste!!!)
>> Chai Tea Cider (regular cider is a touch sweet for me, this is the perfect balance!)
>> Pumpkin Dump Cake (SO easy–my second all time favorite pumpkin recipe!)

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How to End Your Marriage in 3 Easy Steps

Healthy Relationships, Most Recent

Please note this is a satire piece and may not be for everyone!

As a counselor, I have witnessed the heartbreak and havoc relationships can cause in people’s lives. There are times when relationships do need to end.

This is a light-hearted perspective on the foibles of marriage. Exaggerations of what people sometimes do to each other. And let me be the first one to raise her hand and admit: I am a culprit. I have ignored, avoided, and nagged. I’ve been there and done that. So with that said…

Ending a relationship may not seem like an easy task. But let me tell you it is easier than you think. This three-step guide will help those who have yet to start the process and well as those who have already started.

So, let’s start with # 1.

1. The Chastity Belt

Creating a “No Sex Zone” takes a little forethought. First tackle the bedroom environment. Your goal is to make the bedroom a place of stress not sex: dirty dishes, piles of clean and dirty laundry, loose papers strewn throughout the room…if possible move as much as you can from your home office into your bedroom.

Okay, now that the no sex mood is set, time to tackle your appearance. Lingerie, thongs, sleeping in the buff is all banned. Nighties should resemble something your grandma would wear, preferable flannel and floor length. Instead of perfume, rub a little Vick’s Vapor rub on your neck. In a pinch crushes garlic works well. Outside of the bedroom when you are spending time together, try to look as disheveled as possible so as not to give him any ideas. Remember men are visual creatures. Your goal is to be a visual deterrent.

In addition to the above you are going to need excuses: headaches, feeling sick, too tired, PMS, are all wonderful options. You might also want to consider “adding days” to your menstrual cycle. If needed, be on your period for 10 to 15 days, followed by a week of PMS symptoms…. this should only leave room for 3 to 5 potential sex days.

2. The Drippy Faucet

The first key to becoming a drippy faucet to never, ever compliment your partner. Only and I repeat only comment on what he does wrong. Such as, folding the laundry incorrectly, forgetting to feed the children vegetables with dinner, not cleaning-up after himself or the children, leaving the toilet seat up. What ever you find irritating about him communicate habitually using your mom voice.

Second, provide lists, lots of lists, both written and verbal. Give priority to verbal lists because they are easily forgotten, which gives you two opportunities to communicate dissatisfaction 1. The job was not done. 2. He never listens to you.

Nag, Nag, whine, complain, nag, nag, whine, complain. Repeat frequently, at least 20 times a day, dividing between daytime and nighttime hours. If you have time throw in an extra nag session right before bed. Nagging before bed also discourages sex. Two birds, one stone, you get the idea.

3. The Social Outcast

For this you are going to need a phone and a computer. Make sure to always have your phone or computer within arms reach. The moment he enters the room or begins conversing this is your cue to start scrolling through your social media pages. Do not acknowledge his presence. Occasional verbal “Hello’s” are okay. But try to keep them to a minimum. If you need to communicate with him it is best to utilize texting. Keep your comments short and to the point. Avoid emoticons or language that communicates affection.

When at social events make an effort to spend the majority of your time talking with other people. If possible don’t sit next to him at the table. If you do happen to have some alone time together, think of this as a great opportunity to start texting your friends or answering emails. Even on dates, check your phone frequently and text accordingly. Eye contact is shown to build intimacy and connection in a relationship. So, in addition to limiting communication, make a concerted effort to avoid eye contact as well. Your goal is to ensure he does not feel welcome into your inner circle of friendship.

I wish you all the best in your relationship journey. Just like growing a healthy intimate relationship with your partner takes hard work and perseverance, it will take an enormous amount of determination to end it. Keep at it and you will get there.

Or try the opposite and see what happens? You may find the results quite pleasing.

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10 Ways to make life with sick kids easier

Mom Life, Most Recent

Life with sick kids can be really difficult. Keeping them comfortable, wondering if you should take them in or not, trying to keep them hydrated, trying to take care of other kids and not let them get sick, taking time off of work. It can all be a lot, especially if the illness drags on for a few days.

With four kids age seven and under we’ve learned quite a few tricks over the years to keep them comfortable and to maintain our own sanity while they are sick.

10 Ways to make life with Sick Kids EASIER

1. Invest in a good digital thermometer

Fevers are one of the scariest things to deal with when your kids are little. Invest in a high quality digital thermometer so that you can take their temp quickly without having to wrestle with them. You’ll feel confident that you are getting an accurate reading and can even take their temp when they are sleeping.

2. Try to keep them on their regular sleep schedule as much as possible

Sleep is so important when kids are sick. Try your best to keep their normal routine so that they get as much sleep as possible and so that when the sickness has passed, they go right back to their regular schedule.

We try and keep our kids in their own beds unless they have a high fever that we want to monitor throughout the night or are feeling nauseous. If they do come into our room for the night we have them sleep on the floor. If they never get the idea that sickness equals getting to sleep in mom and dad’s bed they don’t fake illness down the road.

3. Using a soft cloth for their nose instead of tissues (this is key!!)

This grossed my husband out to no end, but hear me out! When any of our littles gets a runny nose I always use a receiving blanket or some other soft towel or cloth to wipe their nose with (think old fashioned hanky). Traditional tissues and toilet paper are rough on the nose and dry out the skin around it causing it to be red and chapped.

The trick to not spreading germs everywhere is just to use a clean section of the cloth each time you wipe and replace with clean ones as need be. Testimony: our two-year-old had a six week bought with a runny nose and he never once ran away from when I needed to wipe his nose, instead he would find me to wipe it because it didn’t hurt when I did. It really works well (You may even want to try it yourself!).

You may also want to purchase a nasal aspirator like a Nosefrida if you still have a little one. Many moms I know swear by them and they get great reviews on Amazon.

4. Use lanolin cream to soothe chap noses, cheeks and even lips

Well it should be no surprise that something that works to soothe chapness in areas when you’re nursing also works on other places :) Simply smooth lanolin cream on red noses and cheeks and see how quickly the skin returns to normal. It is also safe to use on chap lips when chapstick isn’t enough, and especially on the corners of the mouth when they get dry and cracked.

This is another tip that works great for adults, too. Need to return to work while getting over a cold? You’ll be able to get rid of the tell tale red nose quickly with this!

5. Take the stopper out of sippy cups or make the hole in the bottle nipple bigger

Sick kids need to stay hydrated, but it can be hard to suck through a bottle or sippy cup with a stuffed up nose. If the child is old enough we try and use a cup with a straw. But when they are little, pulling the stopper out of the sippy cup or cutting a bigger hole in the bottle nipple so that the liquid can flow on its own works very well.

6. Understand how fevers work

Fevers are a natural part of fighting off an illness, our body uses it to get better, but they can be very scary, especially when your children are little. Understanding how they work can help to know when to treat and when to let it run its course. Here is a great article to learn more about fevers.

7. Find a good book to read

So many things to do and all your sick child wants is for you to be next to them. They don’t care that you have a project to finish, loads of laundry and twelve other things that would be really nice to get done.

Last winter our 18 month old got sick right after Christmas. He was literally attached to me for two days. Fortunately I had gotten a new book for Christmas so I cleared my schedule (which took a little creativity) and held him in one arm and my book in the other. It made the time fly by and was actually restful for me, too.

8. Don’t worry if they aren’t eating

Our pediatrician shared with me that fluids are vital when they are sick, eating is not. He said it is ok if they go a day or two without an appetite as long as they are staying hydrated.

You see, digestion is actually a lot of work for our bodies. If the body is busy fighting off an illness, it may not want to do the work of digesting, hence a decreased appetite. But don’t we need energy? As long as your child is a healthy weight to begin with, our bodies always have energy stored and will rely on that. So don’t worry about trying to get your child to eat as long as they’re still drinking.

9. Make a rice sock

Heating pads can be comforting to sick ones, but we find a rice sock to be more cuddly. Simply fill and adult tube sock with a few cups of rice and tie a knot at the top. You can then microwave it for 45-60 seconds or place it in the freezer, whichever temperature would be more soothing to your child.

I sometimes let my kids draw faces on them and decorate it to look like a doll or animal. Then, when I have to go to make dinner or help the other kids, I give it to them to snuggle with until I’m able to come back.

I love using it, too, if I feel a tension headache coming on. It is warm and molds perfectly around your neck. It’s also nice if you’re just cold and want to warm up. And, you can even add a few drops of essential oils to the rice for a nice aroma.

10. When in doubt take them in

Perhaps the absolute worst part about having sick kids? Wondering if you should take them into the doctor or not. Is it strep or just a sore throat? Ear infection or just tired and crabby? Do they need an antibiotic or does it just need to run its course?

Of course there are financial considerations, but as you’re watching the clock and counting down the time until urgent care closes, my husband and I decided, if it is causing us stress not knowing what is wrong, we err on the side of just taking them in. There have been times when we’ve returned home with no prescription, just peace of mind, and that is ok.

The good part is that as your kids get older you begin to know them well. Each time you go to the doctor you learn something new, new signs to watch for, new things to try. You learn, you take them in less frequently for “nothing,” they get older and can tell you exactly what hurts. All of the wondering what to do is only for a season.

There have been many (many) times with sick kids where I have had to remind myself: “this to shall pass.” When you’re tired from being up all night and paying for daycare you’re not using, and having to take time off work. Or worse yet, having to find someone else to watch them and then worrying while you’re gone, the days can really drag on.

But know that you aren’t alone. We’ve all been there. And it will be summer again before we know it! ;)

*Also, please note, I am not a medical professional so please always check with your doctor when your kids are sick!

Do you have any tricks for keeping sick kids comfortable? Please share below!

4 Moms Share: How we get our kids to bed in 15 MIN OR LESS!

Healthy Relationships, Mom Life, Most Recent

I remember after we had our first, the only way to get her to sleep at night was to feed her and then lay with her until she was out and then sneak out of the room. With each step I was fearful that a squeak in the floor or pulling the door shut would wake her up.

Many nights I’d fall asleep with her and my husband would come in and say “she must be asleep, isn’t she?” He would be annoyed that our evening time together had once again been sabotaged by our inability to get our daughter to sleep in her own bed, on her own.

I’d think to myself “we don’t have a clue what we’re doing, I don’t think bedtime should have to be like this!?!”

Fortunately, around the one year mark my husband started taking an interest in the bedtime routine. His gut was this: She needs good sleep at night and we need time together after she goes to bed. We can’t spend an hour putting her to sleep or we’ll continue to dread bedtime until she’s a teenager.

So we made a plan and were consistent with it. And it worked. And it was WAY easier than what we had anticipated.

And while our bedtime routine has evolved over the years, I thought I’d share how we get our four kids (ages 2-7) to bed in under fifteen minutes each night. We’ve learned ALOT over the years, mostly by trial and error, and finding what works for each of our kids.

I also wanted to recruit the help of three other moms since everyone’s routines look a little different. These moms have bedtime under control, as well, and I hope you can take away something from each of them depending on the stage you are in and the uniqueness of your family.

Drama-free bedtime routines:

We asked each mom to answer questions based on their current routine, as well as:

What to do if kids are scared of their room or sleeping alone
How to help kids learn to be able to fall asleep on their own
What they do when kids are sick
The most common excuses their kids use for getting out of bed
What they do when kids get out of bed after being tucked in
When kids are allowed to get up in the morning

Here you can find each of our responses:

DAWN

My husband Tom and I work as Realtors and have four kids ages 2-7. Our schedule is often unpredictable, and it isn’t uncommon for a sitter or relative to put our kids to bed at night, so we wanted a quick, streamlined bedtime routine. We also co-slept with each of our babies until they were around a year old and then transitioned them to their own beds. Read more –>

ALLISON

Allison Loftus MA, LPC is a licensed professional therapist. Allison and her husband Derrick have three kids ages 8-12. Allison offers great advice if your kids have become scared of their room or sleeping alone.
Read more –>

AMY

Amy and Jonny have eight kids ages 4-19. Amy home-schools their kiddos, Jonny is a medical doctor and they also work in ministry. Amy talks about how kids of all ages can successfully share a room, how their routine has evolved through the years, and what bedtime looks like for her teenagers.
Read more –>

MAUREEN

Maureen and Jim have three kids ages 12-17. Jim works as a Family Therapist and Christian Life Coach and Maureen has recently taken on the role of a stay at home mom. Maureen shares about structuring bedtime for their son with special needs as well as bedtime for teens. Read more –>

Sleep Success

So how long does it take to develop new routines at bedtime? I think that we all would agree that if you committed a consistent week to this you would see a huge change and would be putting happy kids to bed with ease from here on out.

We truly hope that you find this helpful and encourage you to leave a comment with any questions that you have, we’ll gladly get back to you right away. We know that routines are unique to each family, but the universal truth is: kids need good sleep and parents and caregivers need time to recharge.

Blessings and GRACE to you! Developing new rituals is not always easy (although it may be easier than what you fear!) but it is definitely worth it!

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Teaching our kids to find truth despite hype, bias & marketing (with the help of a really funny YouTube video!)

Most Recent

Our new favorite family TV show has been the “Carbonaro Effect.” Michael Carbonaro is an actor, comedian and world class illusionist. The Carbonaro Effect is a hidden camera magic TV show. Michael may pose as a store clerk, warehouse manager, museum curator or the like and uses his illusionary skills to confound an unsuspecting victim… all caught on a hidden camera! The comedy, of course, is found in the incredible illusions and the peoples reaction to what they are supposedly seeing, but further enjoyment is found in Michael’s attempt to convince his victims that what they are seeing is explainable and normal.

For example, in one episode Michael is behind the counter at a snack bar in a bowling alley (you can see the video below). An unsuspecting customer approaches and orders a soda. Michael then begins to fill his soda cup using a “cordless soda gun.” The soda is being shot out of the hand held soda dispenser but it isn’t attached to anything! (I certainly don’t know how he does it- probably something up his sleeve.)

The customer can’t believe his eyes, and of course wants to know how that could be happening. Michael calmly explains that the root beer is obtained remotely thru a satellite connection and is dispensed by catching a signal from the local root beer factory. The root beer is sent via satellite. He is simply “downloading” the signal and “wha-la.” He will often use (completely made up) scientific words and explanations to sound more convincing. Because of the scientific explanations given, people are invariably convinced.

It is hard not to laugh at or even judge these unsuspecting folks, but it is also easy to understand why they are being deceived. In the same circumstance, I feel I might have even been persuaded.

I often leave watching this show feeling like it is such a profound reflection of our society today.

We as a society are inundated with significant “truth” that effects our every day outlook on life and our world view. These “truths” are then backed up as “scientific” and we are all expected to believe them because science never lies.

The most obvious example is the theory of evolution. Evolution is not provable, verifiable and (unfortunately for the evolutionists) not reproducible. Yet, it is considered as absolute fact in our schools, museums, textbooks and scientific literature. This is despite the fact that it does not meet any of the scientific threshold for fact. Evolution is at the very best a theory, should be considered a philosophy, and at the worst an outright lie.

Any self respecting scientist should agree with this, but often they don’t. They have ulterior motives- they have to believe that nature created itself- magically- on its own. The problem is that science doesn’t work that way! Their only way do get over that hurdle is thru illusion. They repeatedly wave their wand and report things like “all scientists agree,” or “scientists discover new evidence of evolution,” or to not believe in evolution is “anti-science.” If we are honest, the vast majority of “non-scientific” people just believe it, because science never lies.

The new “scientific” charade has been that of global warming. All of the evidence that led to the initial theory of global warming has now been found to be lacking and in most cases false. Because of this, you may have noticed, the movement is no longer called global warming, but rather “climate change,” and so the magic trick continues… if they overwhelm us with supposedly scientific data and shame anyone who would actually call for verifiable facts, then maybe their agenda could continue unfettered. Michael Carbonaro would be proud!

We as a people are not stupid, but often we are uninformed. Take the time to examine and critically review the facts. Expose any bias, prejudice or conflict of interest by the author or the sponsor. We can’t allow ourselves to be caught unaware. Perhaps what we are told is indeed verifiable, reproducible scientific fact, but quite possibly what we are seeing is actually just an illusion.

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Dr. Jonathan Claussen is a Family Practitioner from Staples, Minnesota. He is married to his beloved wife Amy and is raising eight wonderful children. He is also the founder and president of the “Family Restoration Project.” It was created to bring restoration first of all, to our identity in the Father as sons and daughters, which then creates strong marriages, empowered parents and healthy families. Dynamic Christian families in turn, display the power and influence needed to bring restoration to the entire world!

Warm Chai Tea Cider Recipe, the perfect fall drink!

By Diana, Most Recent, Recipe Box

This warm chai tea cider drink came about earlier this year. I was recently married to an amazing Indian man. My bridesmaids wore beautiful Indian gowns as we danced the night away on my parent’s Minnesota farm. And that is the back drop for this warm, fall drink. It’s a picture of my new married life: wonderful Indian spices and customs, combined with home grown American recipes and traditions.

Eastern hospitality meets Western fall tradition in this warm, perfectly spiced chai tea cider drink. Serve with pumpkin pie and apple crisp after your Thanksgiving or other fall meal. Your guests will feel warm and relaxed as they sip this rich, flavor-filled beverage.

And it’s simple! Brew the tea, add the cider and let it simmer until the perfect time.

Chai Tea Cider Recipe

Ingredients:

10 Chai Tea Bags (Recommended: Good Earth Wild Chaild)
1/2 Gallon Apple Cider
Cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon and nutmeg

Directions:

Fill a small sauce pan or tea pot with water and bring to a boil. Cut the strings off of the tea bags and add to the boiling water. Reduce heat and let steep 5 minutes.
Transfer the tea (with tea bags) to a large pot, add the cider and cinnamon sticks. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg to taste and let simmer (at least 20 minutes).
Serve when ready!

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed learning about hospitality from my new husband and his family. They continuously go out of their way to make guests feel welcome and cared for.

I love serving this drink to our guests because it is perfect for sipping after a nice meal together.

The best part is that my new husband loved this warm chai tea cider, too! Not too sweet, just the perfect amount of apple and spices. We hope you enjoy it!

Best wishes

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