Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake

Did you know it's National Pumpkin Day? I love celebrating all things pumpkin, so I just had to share this super easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake.

I've recently started being a nanny two days a week for the most adorable ten-month old baby boy. His parents are wonderful people, so it's really been a blessing for all of us to meet and start this relationship. I'd forgotten how amazing babies are and how much work they are. But I love doing this and the baby is one of the sweetest little guys I've ever met.

And all this brings me back to this yummy cake. I bake all the time, for blog posts, for family birthdays and all kinds of occasions. I really love baking. But I've been busy this last week and haven't baked anything.

Yesterday before my grandchildren left for school, they asked me if I could bake them a treat. I'm happy to be a Nana that bakes, so of course I said yes. I normally always bake from scratch now, but remembered I had this yummy, time-saving recipe.

It calls for a box of yellow cake mix, canned pumpkin, and a can of ready-made frosting. From start to finish, it only takes about 40 minutes. Bake it in a 13x9 inch baking pan and it makes about 12 servings, depending on the size of your slices.

My grandchildren loved it and so did the rest of my family. It's perfect if you need a quick dessert on short notice, or a great afterschool snack cake.

Recipe for Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake

Ingredients:

1 package of yellow cake mix (about 15 ounces)

1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin

2 eggs

1/2 cup water

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

3/4 cups mini chocolate chips, divided

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 container ready-made cream cheese frosting

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9 inch metal baking pan and line with parchment paper.

Beat cake mix, pumpkin, eggs, water, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl with electric mixer 2 minutes, or until well blended. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips and pecans. Spread batter in prepared pan.

Bake 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool in pan completely, then frost cake with frosting and sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips.

-Post by Patricia



Making A Wecome Home From The Hospital Gift Basket For A Dear Friend

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyCaregivingStory #CollectiveBias

If there's one thing in life I've learned, it's how valuable our friendships are, especially as we get older. Friends may come and go at certain points, but if we're very lucky, we will keep a few that are with us through thick and thin, good times and bad, and through the health problems many of us are challenged with as the decades go by.

I have a dear friend who is kind, and smart, and talented, and who always listens to me with an open heart. I know I can tell her anything and she will support me and help however she can. We also have a lot of laughs together, and I consider her an important part of my life.

Since she's in her seventies now, the last few years have not been easy for her in terms of her health. She's had some very serious heart problems and surgeries, but somehow manages to bounce back to her old self pretty quickly. I truly admire her wonderful attitude and love for life.

She recently had surgery again so I wanted to bring her a gift basket filled with things that she can use, and things I knew she would love. I've discovered that just because you are ill or recovering from illness, doesn't mean you no longer care about feeling special in the way you take care of yourself.

My friend loves to dress well, and pamper herself in small and simple ways. There's nothing she loves more than a warm, soothing bath so I decided to make her some Pumpkin Honey Sugar Scrub Cubes that I know she'll use and appreciate. 

Along with the sugar scrub cubes, I included some cards she can send, some note pads, warm socks, hand cream, a new coffee mug, and a favorite book of mine on faith.

I think a gift basket is one of the nicest things you can give someone for almost any reason, and it's a lot of fun buying and gathering things to make it special for the receiver.

I also included something that I know she needs and will really appreciate me buying for her, and that's Poise® Maximum Absorbency Pads. With all of her health problems and surgeries, it's a relief for her to have a product she can depend on to deal with her incontinence, and still feel fresh and clean.



Since a lot my friends have had to start dealing with incontinence as they get older, or become caregivers to elderly parents, we look for products we can use and trust.

Sam's Club offers Poise® Maximum Absorbency Pads that provide even more absorbency to give you the confidence and protection you need for your Light Bladder Leakage (LBL) with discreet and worry-free protection.

Look for the new packaging now available on Poise® and Depend® products that shows just how much you save by shopping at Sam's Club. I love the convenience and saving of buying in bulk, and not running out on important essentials.



I'm always so touched whenever anyone gives me something they made. It's just such a warm and sweet way to show they care about you. These easy Pumpkin Honey Sugar Scrub Cubes are super easy to make and the pumpkin spice in them is especially nice this time of year.

How to make Pumpkin Honey Sugar Scrub Cubes:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup unscented soap, shredded

1 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon honey

1 heaping tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the oil and shredded soap. Microwave on high in 20 second intervals until soap and oil are combined and melted. Add in the sugar, honey, and spice and then stir to combine.

Quickly pour the mixture into an ice cube mold and place in freezer about 30 minutes to firm up.

When the cubes are firm, store them in an air tight container to maintain their proper consistency. But for gift giving, I put them in a plastic bag and labeled them with a tag. They smell so good!

To use them in the bath or shower, take one and crush it slightly in your hand, Then rub it over your body before rinsing. They act like a pumpkin scented exfoliation and really feel great on your skin.

This recipe will make 12 sugar scrubs.



Along with Poise Maximum Absorbency Pads, Sam's Club members can also find Depend® FIT-FLEX® Underwear for Women. They are now more comfortable and feature all-around leg elastics, and a smooth, close-to-body fit.

And when you open your Depend packaging it will have a sticker inside that you can use to redeem at the pharmacy for a great caregiver sample kit. This offer is available while supplies last, so hurry in today to find your packaging with this offer!

Be sure and check out Sam's Club Family Caregiving, a one-stop destination for all of your caregiving needs, including prescription refills, personal care products, and free health screenings. This is really awesome for all members, and I know I'm going to take full advantage of it.

Be sure to download the Digimarc Discovery app, you can scan anywhere on the Depend packaging, and it will take you to the Sam’s Club Caregiver website where you can find more information.

Whether you are a caregiver for a family member, or simply care very much about someone special like I do about my friend, it feels wonderful to share in making their lives a little better. I know my friend will appreciate her gift basket and everything in it. I'm just happy to spend time with her and enjoy her company.

Do you know someone who would be able to use Poise® Maximum Absorbency Pads? Sometimes the gift of giving basic products that we need are so appreciated. Do you have a caregiving story you would like to share?

Leave me a comment below, I would love to hear from you.

-Post By Patricia

Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler

If you're a pumpkin dessert lover than this is one recipe that you will simply fall in love with. It's truly that good. It's sweet and spicy, and has a rich pumpkin flavor that simply can't be beat.

I found the recipe last year over on Lauren's Latest blog and finally got around to making it yesterday. And boy am I glad because this one is a keeper. I'm going to make it again, doubling the recipe and serve it on Halloween night for dessert. We have family and a couple of neighbors coming over after trick-or-treating, and I know they'll love this.

It's an easy recipe that most home cooks and bakers have the ingredients on hand for in the pantry already. The exception might be the canned pumpkin, but if you're anything like me, you have already stocked up with lots of cans in preparation for fall and winter baking.

Here's the crazy thing about this recipe, the thing that made me wonder if this dessert would really turn out right. After you make the batter and topping and spread it in the baking dish, you pour HOT WATER on top of it. And you don't stir it but simply put it into the oven.

Somehow that hot water works it's magic and turns into a rich caramel flavored sauce that can be spooned over the top. And it's perfect with vanilla ice cream and added pecans.

Recipe for Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler

Ingredients:

1 cup + 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup melted butter or vegetable oil

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For topping:

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1 1/2 cup very hot water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium sized bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and spices. Set aside.

In a smaller bowl, stir pumpkin, milk, melted butter (or vegetable oil) and vanilla together to combine. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix to create a thick batter. Pour into a 8-inch casserole dish with high sides.

In a separate bowl, stir sugar, brown sugar, and pecans together. Spread evenly over top of batter. Pour hot water over all of it. DO NOT STIR. Bake for 40 minutes or until the middle is set.

Serve warm. Add vanilla ice cream and additional pecans if desired.

Makes 6-8 servings.

-Post by Patricia

 



Best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever

I know that's a pretty bold statement to say that these are the best pumpkin chocolate chip cookies EVER, but I think it's true.

They are so melt-in-your-mouth delicious that I've decided to keep making them even after the holidays are over. That's how yummy they are. I'm having a lot of fun baking with canned pumpkin, and this recipe takes one cup. Of course there's more than one cup in a can, so I'm saving whatever is left and using it for the next recipe that calls for it. The leftover pumpkin adds up, and since I'm trying to be frugal with my baking costs, this is a big help.

My daughter and I, and my grandchildren, took some of the cookies to a sweet friend who has the most adorable baby ever. These are great cookies for sharing, and I know that whoever you might give them to will think you're wonderful.

The recipe calls for regular size chocolate chips but I didn't have quite enough. So instead, I used the mini sized and I actually think that's best. Either way, the pumpkin and chocolate blend together to give you a flavorful, soft cookie that stores well in an air-tight container. That is if you have any left over!

Recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1stick) unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In the bowl of an electric mixer (or handheld mixer) cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Add the pumpkin puree and stir until incorporated. Add the salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. Mix in the flour until fully combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Using a small sized cookie scoop, place the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 12-13 minutes, or until lightly browned. Place on wire racks and let cookies cool completely.

Makes about 30 cookies.

-Post by Patricia 

5 Ways To Help Stay Healthy This Fall

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #Sponsored #BeGoodToYourBones #Collective Bias

This is my first fall in Nevada since I moved away from Seattle in July. It certainly is different, and I can't believe I'm wearing a tank top in October. I've had a bit of a rough adjustment to the weather, but it's really started to cool down, and I'm so happy about that.

I tried to really think about how I can keep myself healthy this fall, and I came up with 5 ways that should help me do that. They are all simple things that will pay off now and in the long run, and anyone can do them. Since I live with my daughter and her family, my three grandchildren's return to school means they will undoubtedly bring home the usual colds and flu bugs.

So hopefully by paying more attention to the way I take care of myself, I can avoid getting sick. I think it's definitely harder to be ill and takes longer to recover as we get older.

The first thing that is so important is to keep physically active. One of the things I do love about our new neighborhood is that it's so walker friendly. If you take a daily walk, even if it's just ten minutes, it will make a big difference in how you feel and think. I'm walking up to 45 minutes a day now, and it's wonderful.

There's nothing I love better than to drink a hot cup of tea with honey at the first sign of a scratchy throat. It's a very old remedy that my mother always gave me and it somehow seemed to work it's magic.

Of course, all liquids are good for you when you're not feeling well, and keeping yourself well hydrated is important to stay healthy. I drink tea all the time and I'm convinced that hot tea and honey can ward off feeling miserable when you drink it when your throat starts to hurt.

I love trying different teas and flavors of honey, and I always have plenty on hand in the cupboard.

As I get older, I'm even more aware of how important it is to maintain strong bones and flexible joints in order to remain active and feel good everyday. I'm lucky to have found a simple answer to my growing concern about this.

 Caltrate® Bone & Joint Health* lets me get  the bone health benefits of Calcium, Vitamin D3 and Magnesium, plus Vitamin C, Zinc and More† to support joint health in just one tablet per day.

I've seen so many of my friends who are my age that have become inactive and complain about joint pain, and pain when they move around. As I'm about to turn 60 this year, I'm determined not to let this happen to me. I love being active, and so taking Caltrate® Bone & Joint Health* will help me to keep walking and moving this fall, and beyond.

And did you know that as people age the amount of cartilage in joints decreases? Cartilage acts as a cushion in between bones. The more I learn about bone and joint health, the more I understand how I can play a part in helping myself remain active and confident as I age.

† Refers to Copper, Manganese and UC-II®.

When the cooler weather starts, I always crave good old comfort food. There's just something about delicious stews, soups, and chilies that satisfies my soul. Comfort is the perfect word to use for these dinners that I love cooking for my family.

But when we think of comfort food, it's often heavy, calorie laden meals that come to mind. It doesn't have to be that way, and using lots of vegetables, beans, and spices lets you create dishes that are just as tasty but better for you.

I understand how busy we all are, especially during the fall. But sitting down to eat a hot nourishing meal in the evening with family or friends is so important to our health in so many ways.  



I've been doing yoga on and off for about ten years. Let me say that when I do maintain my practice, I almost never get sick during the fall and winter. Studies show that doing yoga gives us amazing health benefits, and I feel like I'm living proof of that.

Yoga also lifts my mood and helps to ward off negative feelings that I may be experiencing. Every time I stop doing it, when I come back to my practice, I always feel so much better.

Taking Caltrate® Bone & Joint Health* and doing yoga on a regular basis is all a part of maintaining joint and bone health. I want to stay fit and active for years and years to come so that I can share a happy and healthy life with my children and grandchildren.

Caltrate® Bone & Joint Health*is exclusively available in-store at Walgreens. I found it in the section for Joint Care.

Be sure to look in your Sunday newspaper for a $4.00 coupon that will be available on 10/2/16.

And you may also find a temporary price reduction ($11.99) in the month of October.

Have you ever tried Caltrate® Bone & Joint Health*? Please leave me a comment below and let me know how it has helped you stay active. And if you haven't tried using it, why not?

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

-Post by Patricia