Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal

2 C steel cut oats
1 15oz can pumpkin puree
5 cups milk (can use almond milk)
1 T pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 c brown sugar (1/2 c sugar is plenty)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
Whipped cream for garnish
1/2 c chopped walnuts, optional

Combine ingredients in pot on stove and simmer until desired consistency, about 15 minutes or so.  Can also put combined ingredients in slow cooker, cooking on low 5-6 hours.  Garnish with whipped cream on top.

You may want to adjust how much milk you want to use for desired thickness. You may want to add 1 cup water to oats before cooking. Can also substitute ripe mashed bananas instead of pumpkin to make banana bread oats.

Dirt Cake

I was asked to bring this cake to my son's Cub Scout pack meeting tonight.  I think it will be a hit.  Boys like dirt, bugs and of course the combination will be fantastic!  


Chocolate cake mix, plus added items needed to bake it according to package directions
1 (3.2 oz) small instant chocolate pudding mix
1 (8oz) tub of Cool Whip
1/4 c milk
Oreo cookies, crumbled
gummy worms or snakes


9x13 pan
Feeds at least 12

1.  Bake a chocolate cake according to package directions.  Let cool.
2.  With electric mixer, mix chocolate pudding mix, Cool Whip and milk together until well combined.
3.  Spread chocolate pudding mixture over cooled cake.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.
4.  Before serving, crumble Oreo on top to look like dirt.  Can put cookies in blender to get really fine crumbs if desired.
5.  Put gummy worms/snakes on top, pushed in and coming out to look like worms coming out of the ground.

Recipe Source:  Carol Dollar, added instructions by Mel

Easy Jello Salad

1 package flavored gelatin, unmade: (lemon, strawberry, cherry, blackberry, etc)
8 oz cottage cheese
4-8 oz unthawed Cool Whip (to taste)
1 can fruit cocktail or fruit of choice such as crushed/chunk pineapple, mandarin oranges, etc (16 oz, either drained or undrained)
Add coconut or marshmallows before serving if you wish.
Recipe can easily be doubled.

Certain flavors go well together such as orange jello mix and mandarin oranges.  Lemon is good with anything.  Strawberry jello mix with fruit cocktail or fresh strawberries.  Cherry jello mix with maricheno cherry juice and chopped up cherries.

Marshmallows and fruit colors can vary based on holidays.

Watergate Salad

A classic Mormon Jello Salad.

1 C Jet Puffed Marshmallows
1 package (3.4 oz) Jello Pistachio Instant Pudding Mix (unmade)
1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
1/2 c chopped pecans or walnuts
1 1/2 c thawed Cool Whip topping
2 c cottage cheese (optional, gives it some nutrition haha)

Combine ingredients and refrigerate 1 hour.  Add marshmallows just before serving.