Friday Things #341
1. I got to hang out on Joseph’s field trip to a local farm yesterday; it was an absolutely gorgeous morning for looking at pumpkins and eating fresh-picked apples. He had so much fun! It was optional for parents to stay and when we got in the car I told him how much fun I had with him and he said, “Mommy, I’m so glad you stayed with me!” Melted my heart because I know one day he’ll be hoping I don’t volunteer to chaperone ;-)
2. We had Dominic’s 3rd birthday party this weekend and he had such a great time. We did a construction truck theme since he’s been absolutely obsessed with the book Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site for months now. He can be super shy and doesn’t always like getting attention, but I think he loved it this time around :)
3. Isabelle was 18 months old on Sunday! Quite literally the fastest year and a half of my life. This girl is all-in on every emotion – total belly laughing, squealing with delight, and screaming her head off when she’s not happy, HA! It’s been so fun to watch her relationships with her brothers emerge and it is just so sweet; I love seeing them all loving on each other.
4. Who has had a “bumpy” cake before? It’s my understanding that it’s a midwest thing? Tell me more!!
5. Some wonderful nuggets in here >> 9 Things About Happiness and Money We’re Often Taught Too Late
6. Did you make the Sticky Buns for October’s bake-along yet? Tell me all about it!
7. What have been your favorite non-fiction books?
8. YES >> Food Isn’t Good or Bad, and Neither Are You
9. We started DCI Banks a couple of nights ago and so far we’re liking it!
10. TGIF! Wishing you a happy and fun weekend!
If he loves that book, there is a sequel, “Three Cheers for Kid McGeer” by the same authors. My daughter loves them both.
The new one is about a skid steer, and since we have one, she thinks it’s going to help and talk to her.
Non-fiction books are my FAVE! I’d so much rather read a true story than a story out of someone’s head.
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of September 11, 2001 is fantastic. It’s minute-by-minute memories of people who lived through the day. I skipped the politicians, but the rest is truly eye-opening and heartbreaking. I learned a lot reading it, too!
The Dark Heart: A True Story of Greed, Murder, and an Unlikely Investigator is a Norwegian true crime story. Well-written and interesting!
Since you like sports, you might like Carry On: Two Young Men, a Journalist Who Wouldn’t Walk Away, and the Creation of an Unlikely Family. A really amazing story! I rarely cry reading books, but this one…!
Hi Michelle! I have not only eaten but also made bumpy cake. It’s a Sander’s classic, which is the predominate candy maker in my area. Here’s my recipe if you’re curious: https://piesandplots.net/carob-bumpy-cake-sunday-supper/
Fav non-fiction books:
Nobody’s Cuter Than You by Melanie Shankle
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
I live in the Midwest but have never heard of a “bumpy” cake – looked it up though and may have to give making one a try. The kids look great as usual – I too am enjoying DCI Banks …..have you watched “The Fall” with Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan?…it’s dark but really good.
I love DI Banks! I’ve read most of the books and I like this series just as much.
With this cooler fall weather, I think I’ll make the sticky buns tomorrow. They’re my favorite.
Favorite non fiction book….one of many..Lost Boy by Greg Laurie. Isabelle is growing so fast, just love her pretty hair. Great picture of doggie with the big doggie smile for the camera😊have a great weekend.
I’m from northern Indiana and I’ve heard of the bumpy cakes, but never had or seen one.
I love nonfiction! Some of my favorites are: Furious Hours by Casey Cep, Killer of the Flower Moon by David Grann, Code Girls by Liza Mundy, all of the memoirs by David Sedaris.
Favorite non-fiction books – any of Sam Kean’s books. Disappearing Spoon is fantastic. One of my other favorites is Bill Byrson’s Short History of Nearly Everything. And last I’ll mention Jeff Shaara, they’re historical fiction, but very very accurate in their history and the best way I personally have enjoyed learning history. Thanks to you for continuing to blog and share. You’re my first stop when I’m looking for something new!
I just left off Mary Roach, how could I leave off Mary Roach! Stiff and Gulp were really fun reads!
For sport I really enjoyed Jon Feinstein, even if I don’t care about the sport. The Boys in the Boat was also very enjoyable. For food related, Appetite for Life: The Biography of Julia Child was fabulous and inspiring as a late bloomer. Okay, that’s probably enough – sorry I love books and food equally!
I second the Bad Blood recommendation. SO GOOD. I’ve also loved Devil in the White City, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Educated (Tara Westover), The Strange Case of Dr. Couney: How a Mysterious European Showman Saved Thousands of American Babies, The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration. That should keep you busy for awhile. :)
Did you know that Doc Martin season 9 is on now? New episodes on every Thursday. Sadly, there are only 8 episodes, but there is talk about 2 more seasons!! I love DCI Banks, too!!
Have a great weekend!
We have bumpy cake here in Michigan. They are made by Sander’s. It’s a chocolate cake with rows of a whipped cream frosting, then covered in a chocolate ganache. So delicious !
The Milk Chocolate Fudge ice cream topping is the best ever! Here is a history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanders_Confectionery … Can you tell I was born in Detroit! HaHa
Sanders Candy Company Detroit Michigan make chocolate and caramel bumpy cakes it is cake with cream filling on top and covered in Chocolate or Caramel ….https://www.sanderscandy.com/.
……….https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanders_Confectionery
Oh and Milk Chocolate Hot Fudge is THE BEST EVER!!! Can you tell I was born in Detroit!! HaHa
So sweet that you went to Joseph’s field trip! My kids are almost 1o yrs older than yours, & I so miss those days when they were the age of your kids!
They will love it too, once they start elementary school, if you’re school allows parent volunteers in the classroom. I did that once a month for them in kindergarten, & they so looked forward to it!
Have a great weekend!
Aww, my grade school classmate wrote Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site – Sherri Duskey Rinker. So awesome how popular this book is.
And as a Midwesterner (Chicago) I have never heard Bumpy cake before. I’ve heard of “dump” cakes but never this. Having looked it up, I definitely want to try one now.
I’ve made Bumpy cake twice. I have not perfected the ‘bumpy part” but it is yummy. I used the recipe posted by Martha in comments.
A fascinating book is “Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup” – hard to believe that a young lady could bamboozle so many people. It’s a real lesson in gullibility.
Bumpee Cakes are big in the Detroit area – mostly a nostalgic item. My husband’s family always had them as kids for their birthday. Not my personal favorite but worth trying at least once!
My husband and I are from the midwest – I’m from Milwaukee, he’s from Detroit. Definitately a Detroit area thing. And one where you have to grow up on them to understand the appeal. I’ve had several. It’s just a chocolate cake, with thick ribbon stripes of whipped cream or another sturdy cream across the top and chocolate ganache poured over the top. I don’t get the appeal. But I DO feel they taste better with the Sanders company chocolate sauce – you can’t use the cheap tub icing on these.
This book and the story is absolutely fascinating. I’m addicted to it – I’ve now watched every documentary and listened to every podcast about it since reading the book. I think because it was a woman committing such a fraud makes it that much more crazy and unusual. We’re usually the whistleblowers not the committers.
As noted by Barb below, it’s made by Sanders. https://www.sanderscandy.com/
. You can order online, but in my neighborhood, can get them at grocery stores, frozen as well as fresh. I know tons of ppl who only want Bumpy Cake for their birthday. ( It is pretty good!)
Michelle-
I haven’t made bumpy cake yet, but I found this recipe on another website (https://comfortablydomestic.com/2015/02/bumpy-cake/) Would love to see how it is assembled with the bumps/logs on the top
“because I know one day he’ll be hoping I don’t volunteer to chaperone ;-)”. NOT TRUE!!! They might SAY they don’t want you to chaperone their event, BUT THEY REALLY WANT YOU THERE!! I was always at my daughter’s events. After she graduated High school she actually admitted she was glad I was there, and her friends told her she was lucky her mom was always there! If possible, keep going. Everyone will be happy you did!!
I had never heard of Bumpy cake, but I just googled and the one on KAF website does look good.
Bumpy Cake! I’m not a huge fan of chocolate ,but this is one cake I’ll eat. Moist dark chocolate caked with rows of creamy white icing ,( like 7 minute frosting) piped on . All is covered in a chocolate ganache like frosting. They are made by Sanders. If you get the chance try their chocolate fudge ice cream topping. It’s a Michigan product