Family Recipe: "Dump" Cake and "What can I do?"

This weekend was really beautiful outside... a little cool in the mornings and evenings, but sunny and warm during the best part of the day.  So, why do My Boys have to constantly ask "What can I do?"... hmmm, let me think - Go outside and play?  Wouldn't that be the logical choice?

This has been a fairly constant question since spring began.  The weather is nice enough to be outside pretty much all the time.  But, some days they need a bit of convincing.  I know sometimes the neighborhood kids aren't out, so there is less of a desire to go out and do something when no one else is around to play with them.  So, yesterday My Husband and I got them out to do a bit of bike riding in the neighborhood.  At least they got to enjoy some fresh air, right?

What do you do when your kids ask "What can I do?"... would love to hear the answers other parents give the kids.  I have heard other parents suggest they clean their rooms (love this one!) and I've been known to tell mine to grab a book and go read outside. 

When I was a kid, I know I used to pester My Mom asking what I could do... now I realize how annoying it was!  I don't remember how My Mom handled it, but I am sure she pointed me in the direction of something that I didn't think sounded fun... because that's apparently what I am doing now.

Now, on to a recipe!  When I posted the poll a month or so back, there was a good percentage of people wanting more Family Recipes to be shared here... so, while I know this recipe exists beyond My Family, it is one My Mom used to make when I was a kid.  I imagine that this was a great budget friendly recipe since the number of ingredients were minimal and could probably be purchased on sale.  Extremely simple to make, since you essentially "dump" each ingredient on top of the other in your baking pan then, put it in the oven until it's reached total "yumminess" (yes, that is a word!).


Dump Cake
Source: My Mom

Ingredients
1 large can crushed pineapple
1 can cherry pie filling
1 box of yellow cake mix (2 layer cake size)
1/2 cup nuts (I left these out)
1 or 2 cups butter (I only used 1 cup)

Directions
Grease a 9x13x2 inch pan with cooking spray.  Dump the can of crushed pineapple in the bottom, spread out with a spatula.  Then, dump the cherry pie filling on top of the pineapple and spread as best you can with a spatula.  Next add the cake mix, and spread evenly over the wet ingredients.  Add nuts, if using.  Finally, cut the sticks of butter into patties and place evenly over the top of the cake mix.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first.
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Comments

Shelby said…
Patsy! You should submit this to Family recipes! LOL. I haven't done my host post yet but will soon!

I never seemed to have "that" problem with my kids. The one problem I did have? All they wanted to do was play legos....and when it was beautiful outside, I wanted them outside. So, I allowed them to play legos, but made them play with them on the picnic table outside! LOL. I was such a mean mom!
My daughter was an only child and would somehow always find something to entertain herself. She was perfectly happy to either be on her own drawing or playing with friends. I guess it is the "only child" syndrome.The Dump Cake brings back memories, with a name that kids would love!!!
Jenny said…
Great post Patsy!! Love the dump cake :) Stumbled!
Jamie said…
I love the dump cake Patsy. I've made one similar but with just cherries.

My daughters usually entertain each other but when they start hovering around me I know they are bored. I've used the go outside and play and clean your room answer in the past.
Robin said…
Ha I just came across this recipe a few days ago and realized I haven't made it in ages, forgot all about it! And here you have it right here! We are all thinking alike.
Holly said…
Dumb question- Can of Pineapple - drained or with juice? My grandma made this cake all of the time - one of my favorites! Thank you for the good memories!
My grandmother used to make this and I loved it...I'd forgotten all about it, so thanks for posting this Patsy!
I agree with Shelby-this is a perfect post for Family Recipes. :)
Bored kids can be frustrating. I was glad mine liked to read, as that was one of my sugggestions to them. If it was nice ouside, my boys were rarely bored. Good luck!
Patsyk said…
It's a can of pineapple with juice... you need the juices to bake into the cake mix. :)

Funny, I thought I was the only one who said to read a book when they couldn't think of anything else to do!
ChefDruck said…
My kids do that to me all the time too. My mom's stock answer was "go outside!" Mine is "bored people are boring. Find something to do." I even annoy myself! But seriously, after I repeat that to them a few times, they eventually do find something to do. Either that or we make chocolate chip cookies.

Love the dump cake - never thought of turning to canned pineapple for an easy recipe!
ReneeK said…
Patsy -
I remember this recipe as well! Only we used apples (from the can of course). Delicious! Don't have a solution for "what to do" although I like the "clean the room" idea!
Renee

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