Two Recipes: One for Cake and One for a Meaningful Summer

June 2021 – Newsletter

Thirty-ish years ago, at the end of the religious school year, the Rabbi sent my kids off with this advice for how to have a meaningful summer: Take a walk; read a book; make a friend. Like a dump cake recipe where three or four simple-to-find ingredients combine to create a tasty treat, this recipe for summer is equally succinct and satisfying. Not only do I return to it every summer, but I also offer it up to you. Oh, and when you scroll through this newsletter, you’ll find a dump cake recipe too. Sweet!

Take a Walk:

If you need a “recipe” for how to start a walking habit, I wrote about it here: Walking for Good Health, How to Create the Habit.

Read a Book:

As a writer, it’s sad that things I wrote long ago get buried under the pile of things I wrote more recently. Thus, as I look at the list of sixty-three (63!) books I have reviewed on my website since March, 2020, I feel sorry for the early reviews that are now forgotten. I remedy the problem here.

The earliest fiction review: Young Jane Young

This is the story of a Monica Lewinsky type character, and it takes place before the me-too movement.

The earliest nonfiction review: Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity and Love

This shows a potentially scary side of DNA testing: finding out your parent is not your parent!

Make a Friend:

If you need a “recipe” for how to find new friends, I wrote about it here: How to Be Rich in Friends.

Here is an activity for you and your new friend – drinking coffee together! These BIG coffee mugs hold 15 ounces and are on sale now in my Etsy shop – 15% off! (Sale ends 6/30/21.)

And Now Here’s That Cake Recipe:

Thanks to Ree Drummond for this recipe:

Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake

One 21-ounce can cherry pie filling

One 15-ounce can crushed pineapple

One 18-ounce box of white cake mix

1 ½ sticks (12 Tbsp.) butter

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. In a 9 X 13 pan, dump the two cans of fruit, and stir them together
3. Sprinkle the cake mix over the fruit
4. Distribute slices of the butter evenly over the surface of the cake mix
5. Bake until the top is brown and bubbly, 45-60 minutes.

A Note in Closing:

Thanks for reading this quarterly newsletter. I am hoping two things:

• That you tell your friends about me and ask them to join my mailing list.
• That you will think of my Etsy shop whenever you need a gift.

Thank you!

Lorie