Forget sheet cake, but try cheat cake

Life has been quite interesting around here these last days and weeks. We certainly haven’t had any worries about getting bored.

My brother Jeriah, now 22, is getting married next Thursday to Esther Hershberger.

The big daywill be hosted in the furniture shop at my parents wheremy husbandDanielworks. Besides the wedding preparations we’ve had plenty of other things going around us to keep us hopping.

I’ll startwith today: Julia helped me do some basic cleaning in the house and garage in preparation for youth Bible study tonight. Yes, we’ve been hosting church services at our house for a little over a month now and this is our final event before passing the responsibility to someone else.

Hosting church has been a tremendous blessing but it will be nice to have a break.

The youth each get a chance to choose a topic. Tonight’s topic is about keeping our hearts pure.

After youth meetingwe’ll be serving root beer floats, popcorn, and dump cake. I don’t knowwhether or not you’re familiar with dump cakes, but they really are “dump cakes” or to my way of thinking they could be called “cheat cakes” because they’re so simple. I’m not usually big on using cake mixes but for busy days like today I’m thankful for a swift route. They really are always a hit especially with milk or ice cream.

Now, taking a look at tomorrow I’ll be going to Mom and Dad’s in the evening to join the youth and several other families (totally about 40 people) who plan to have a work night to clear out the shop, wash windows, andmulch the flower beds all in preparation for the big day.

The shop equipment, work tables, etc. all will be moved to the back of the warehouse to accommodate the approximately 300wedding guests for the ceremony and reception.

The following days will be spent in washing down the inside of the shop ceiling, walls, and floor with a power washing and doing trimming and mowing in the pastures and such.

Perhaps I should insert here thatmy husband also plans to help me turn four or five bushels of apples into applesauce on one of these busy pre-wedding days.

Bless his big heart. I wasn’t sure when I’d get a chance to swing it all but he assured me that he’d be happy to help. The Victorio Strainer we received as a wedding gift makes delicious apple sauce with the perfect texture in Daniel’s way of thinking. Not too smooth like pudding and not too chunky like fruit filling.

Nextweek will be the big food week. Quite a bit of things have already been prepared such as strawberry cheese cakes that have been frozen and served the evening of the wedding.

The veggies for the stuffing (or dressing as we call it) have all been harvested, diced, canned and are ready to go. The list could go on and on like the pie crust crumbs that are ready to use for the peanut butter and pecan pies. The two days before the wedding the church ladies will gather at the shop to peel potatoes, marinate the chicken, cut up lettuce for the salads, make jello desserts, pies, and such. While the other ladies help with food I’ll likely be in the house helping mom and dad with last minute preparations like cleaning, dusting, or mopping.

On Thursday morning, the “big day,” we will all wear our matching lavender clothes thatweremade for this special event. Our family will have lavender dresses and shirts while Esther’s will be wearing tan.

Perhaps after the wedding I’ll fill you in on details of other colors such as the cooks, servers, and other helpers.

In the meantime we’ll keep taking it one day at a time, making memories with family and friends as we work together.

If you happen to have a busy fall like ours, then you might want to try our “dump cake” recipe.

DUMPCAKE

1quart piefillingofyour

choice 1pintcrushedpineapples

(optional) 1boxwhiteoryellowcake

mix 1cupchoppedpecans

(optional) 1/2cupbutter, melted

Pour pie filling into a9x13 pan. Spreadpineapple and then topwith dry cake mix and pecans. Drizzlewith meltedbutter. Bake at350 for30minutes. Servewarm orcold.