Cheap and Easy Pumpkin Cake

Even though Thanksgiving is over I though I would post the most delicious Pumkpin Cake Dessert Recipe, it is cheap and easy to prepare and for those of you who love pumpkin pie, you will devour this Pumpkin Cake.

 

Pumpkin Cake

My Mom’s Recipe
Prep: 15 Minutes
Set: 20 Minutes
Bake: 45 Minutes

Meal Preparation Ingredients:

  • 1 Yellow Cake Mix
  • 3/4 cup butter
  • 3 egg
  • 2 cups regular pumpkin (need 1 big can to have enough)
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 3/4 cup canned milk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon

Meal Preparation Directions:

Bowl 1 – mix together very well 2 cups pumpkin, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, 1/4 tsp. salt, 2 eggs, 3/4 cup canned milk, 1 tsp vanilla. After mixing set aside for approx 20 minutes, mixture will start to thicken.
Bowl 2 – mix together 1 cake mix (hold back 1 cup for bowl 3), 1/2 cup butter, 1 egg.
Bowl 3 – mix 1 cup of cake mix help from bowl 2, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 cup soft butter. Mix should be crumbly, this is the topping for the cake.

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Grease 9 x 13 cake pan
  3. Press ingredients from bowl 2 into bottom of pan
  4. Pour ingredients from bowl 1 into pan next
  5. Sprinkle ingredients from bowl 3 on top
  6. Bake for 45 minutes or until lightly brown and toothpick comes out clean.

Meal Assembly:

Serves: 8-10 Can be served warm or cold. Add whipped cream or vanilla ice-cream to the top. This is a sure crowd pleaser so if your looking for something different to take to that holiday party, Pumpkin Cake will be a hit!

December 2nd, 2008 | Tags: , , , , , | Category: cheap snack ideas, Simply Delicious Desserts | 2 comments

Creating “Big Family” Meals On A Budget

Dinner time is the menu I focus on most. I have to think cheap meals for a big family. My budget allows for me to spend about $5 per meal.

Ya, not a lot for my big family but with time and effort I have been able to create basic healthy meals that my kids will actually eat.  Most of the menu’s under the $5 family meals tab will feed a family of 4 people.

I have found simple ways to add more ingredients to make sure there is enough to feed everyone and make ahead freezer meals.

 

How To Make That Recipe Feed A “BIG FAMILY”

  • Spaghetti – I add an 1/2 extra package of noodle, 1 can tomato sauce and extra seasonings.
  • Pasta with white sauce – 1 add 1/2 extra package of noodles, 1 cup sour cream and extra seasoning.
  • Casseroles – again I add extra noodles or rice, double the can ingredients and extra seasoning.

I buy canned fruits and vegetable the case each month. The main reason being they are great fillers, the kids can have 2nd’s or even 3rd’s (yes I’m dreaming I know that such a request would never be made in my house). I only buy fresh fruits and vegetable that are in season and on sale otherwise I could not afford them.

Whenever possible I always make extra. This serves 2 purposes. First you never know who is going to stop by for a visit so there is always enough for an extra plate or two and second (a term that makes my kids cringe) LEFTOVER’S! I make ahead freezer meals for the rest of the week. I package left overs in those Ziploc plastic containers and my husband will take them for lunch the next day or I freeze them then the kids and I will eat leftovers throughout the week for breakfast or lunch depending on what the left over is.

With these suggestions dinner doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. It just takes a little planning and some effort and you will have simple cheap recipes for big families and a little extra money in your wallet.

If you have any cheap and easy dinner ideas I would love to hear from you. Leave me a comment or shoot me an e-mail.

Take a look at this article for more Family Meal Tips and Tricks : Kitchen Tips and Recipe Rescues

September 26th, 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, Best Crockpot Recipes, Casserole Cooking, Cooking Tricks & Tips, Dream Dinners Made Cheap, freezer meals recipes, Kids Recipes Made easy, Simply Delicious Desserts | 23 comments
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