Pumpkin Better than sex Cake

Pumpkin Better Than Sex Cake

Ingredients

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 14 oz pumpkin puree (NOT PUMPKIN PIE FILLING)
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
• 8 oz. tub cool whip
• 1/2 bag Heath Bits
• Caramel Sundae Sauce

Instructions

1. Mix together the cake mix, the pumpkin puree (DO NOT add the other ingredients on the cake mix box), and the pumpkin pie spice until a batter forms. Using the 14 oz. can of pumpkin puree will yield a thicker batter. You can add up to 1 cup more pumpkin if you'd like a thinner batter (which will yield a slightly fluffier cake).
2. Pour batter into a well greased 9x9 (9x13 if you added more pumpkin) baking dish. Bake at 350º for 35-45 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
3. Let cool completely after baking. Using the bottom of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the top of the cake 
4. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the cake, aiming to fill the holes. Refrigerate for 60 minutes or until the sweetened condensed milk has soaked into the cake.
5. Spread the cool whip over top of cake. Sprinkle on the heath bits, and drizzle caramel over top (just to your liking). Refrigerate for 3-4 hours, or overnight (best).

Notes

DO NOT USE PUMPKIN PIE FILLING. YOU MUST USE PUMPKIN PUREE IF YOU WANT THE CAKE TO BAKE CORRECTLY. The cake mix + pumpkin puree version of pumpkin cake may not be for everyone. I like it just fine, especially when it's soaked in SCM and caramel. But if you're not sure about it, feel free to substitute your own pumpkin cake recipe as the cake base. DO NOT mix together the pumpkin, cake mix, and the other ingredients on the back of the cake mix box!!!! ONLY mix the cake mix and the pumpkin puree. You must let the sweetened condensed milk soak in all the way. Letting it sit overnight will yield best results. Use the bottom of a wooden mixing spoon to poke the holes in the cake-- it's just the right size.

I have found this recipe without the pumpkin pie spice - but I used the spice. Made it taste more like pumpkin pie (at least the batter did) now I'm waiting for the 3-4 hours to pass so I can taste it. 

I was a bit disappointed that the batter didn't spread out evenly while cooking - next time I will spread it out. 

While My Pretty One Sleeps - book review

While My Pretty One Sleeps - Mary Higgins Clark, 1989

This book kept me guessing - a classic whodunit. Neeve Kearny, NYPD Commissioner's daughter owns an upscale fashion boutique and takes a special interest in her clients. Her Uncle Sal is a well-known fashion designer loaned her the money to get started. Her father, who is retired, put away a mobster, who he believes killed his wife and thinks is now after his daughter. A famous columnist and client of Neeve's is dead. WOW are you dizzy yet?

Clark does a great job of weaving multiple stories together so you think this person did it because...no this one did it because they had a better motive. It is not until the last few pages is the real master-mind behind the murders and attempted murders revealed.

A few times I got confused and had to re-read sections, but that was probably more to my inattention than Clark's writing. I enjoy a good mystery that I can't figure out, it makes the read fun.