Kathy's Cake

Sometimes you make a friend and you say, "We should get together with our husbands," or "We should get our kids together." And then you try it and things just don't work out. The kids don't hit it off. The husbands don't hit it off. The kids hit it off too well and they are so hyper you don't want to do it again.

It's pretty rare that hubby and I find families that we both like that click well with our kids. I don't know why that is--are we especially difficult people to get along with? Maybe. It makes it harder because lots of the friends I make are writer people and R, although extremely supportive of my writing and of my socializing with them, and very cheerful about hanging with them, doesn't always see them as the most enjoyable social partners for him. So he'll go along willingly, but I know he's being a trooper, and I long for a different scene in which he is as eager as I and enjoying himself as much.

So--lucky us, we hit paydirt last night. Turns out my writer-friend Melinda happens to be married to a guy who went to Roger's same mission! Ka-ching! Also, they have the sweetest, out-reaching kids that my kids really, really liked. All this, and they have a family bluegrass band (I love bluegrass!) and they performed for us last night. (What a cool thing for my boys to see--kids having fun playing instruments!) Anyway, here's hoping that Melinda's family liked us at least a little bit . . .

The star of the evening, though, was Kathy's Cinnamon Bundt Cake recipe. I got this from Kathy C., a childhood friend of mine who also happens to be married to a guy my husband really likes and enjoys. So I guess it was appropriate refreshments for our evening last night. Here's the recipe:

1 yellow cake mix
1 small pkg vanilla pudding mix
3/4 c. veg. oil
3/4 c. water
4 eggs
2 t. vanilla
Cinnamon/sugar mixture for filling (sugar mixed with cinnamon to taste)

Mix cake and pudding mixes dry. Add oil and water, mix well. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each. Add vanilla. Beat high 6-8 minutes (I never last that long--which explains why my rolls never turn out, eh, Melinda?).

Grease bundt pan. Then, instead of flouring it, coat with cinnamon/sugar mixture. Pour in 1/3 batter, then sprinkle liberally with cinn/sugar. Repeat twice.

Bake 40 minutes at 350. (I like it a tiny bit on the raw side.) Cool 8 minutes and remove from pan.