BellaCasa

Pineapple Apricot Dump Cake

Do you like to have a slice of cake while the cake is still warm, but before it is completely cooled down?

Come on ...surely I'm not the only one.

I have a wonderful recipe for a Pineapple Apricot Dump Cake that I'd like to share and warm or not ...you might just fall in love like I have.

I don't bake that much anymore {gotta watch the spare tire}, but when I do get a wild-hair to do so ...I want it to be easy and to taste good.

I prefer to bake a cake and then cut the it in half ...keeping one half for myself and giving away the other half.  It helps me with the calories and that way someone else can enjoy it too.

When I was much younger, I could eat the entire cake myself and never gain an ounce ...well not really.  Now, I have to watch everything I eat, not just dessert.

I don't deny myself of eating things I like ...I simply eat a lot less now.

Recipe:

1 - 8 oz can crushed pineapple

1 - 20 oz can apricot pie filling

1 Duncan Hines moist deluxe classic yellow cake mix

1 cup butter or margarine, melted

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup flaked coconut

Coat a 9" X 13" baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and then spread pineapple and apricot pie filling into the bottom of pan.  Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the filling.  Now begin layering remaining ingredients over the dry cake mix.  Bake uncovered for 1 hour in a preheated 325 degree oven.

Trying some'n different tonight.  Keep'n the whole cake and taking it out on the back patio with a bottle of dessert wine and extra glasses.  We'll just see how many neighbors show up.

Enjoy!

Jan @ BellaCasa

High Tea At Three

I love drinking tea ...especially in the afternoon.

My favorite flavor is raspberry.

Unfortunately ...today I have no raspberry tea in my house.

I'm settling for Jasmine Green Tea instead ...not even closely related, I know, but...

Do you have a favorite tea?  What is it?

I didn't grow up drinking hot tea ...only ice tea.

I had my first encounter with hot tea in Bermuda.  "Tea Time" was promptly at three o'clock everyday ...a rather delightful tradition I looked forward to each day.

Hot tea is definitely a common beverage for me year round, but especially delightful during the colder months of the year when I use the cup to also keep my hands warm.

I've enjoyed reading about the different traditions of how/when people drink tea and also discovered some reasons why tea is so popular and beneficial.  Dr Oz says, "...Oolong tea boosts metabolism, helping you burn fat faster. Studies have shown that drinking oolong tea has led to sustained weight loss and a smaller waist size. Be careful not to drown your tea in sugar, which will negate the benefits."  Read article >>>

Dr. Oz also comments on how certain teas can help fight disease.

For example:  Dr. Oz suggests that Black Teas...prevents Diabetes, while White Teas...prevent Colon Cancer, and Green Teas...prevent Alzheimer's.  You can read more on Dr. Oz's tea suggestions and comments here.

Enjoy your tea!

Jan @ BellaCasa

Candlelight Dinner

Hope you had a fabulous weekend.  Mine was awesome ...spent time with friends and family.

We actually had Easter dinner by candlelight ...yep, the power went out.

Though without power, we had a surprising great time ...we actually talked.  It was a unique Easter, that's for sure, and one that will be well remembered by all.

~Jan @ BellaCasa

photography & graphics-{Jan @ BellaCasa}