Just in time for Easter! Wow guests and family with this easy Spring Surprise Cake

Photo providied

NewsUSA - Hosting an Easter brunch or other spring gathering? What better way to top off an event than with a showstopping dessert! The baking experts at Wesson created a new bundt cake with a twist on the popular surprise cake trend. It’s easy to make, and as delicious as it is impressive.

Wesson oil is the secret ingredient that makes this cake taste like it was made by a professional pastry chef. It creates a light, moist texture that lets the crunch and flavor of the pistachio honey fillings sing. A simple glaze gives it a sweet touch and the gold leaf takes this cake to the next level. Simply fill the open center with spring candies like mini chocolate eggs or jelly beans and you have a beautiful party finale to wow your guests!

WESSON EASY EASTER SURPRISE BUNDT CAKE

Ingredients ~

For the cake:

3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
3 cups granulated sugar
¾ cup Wesson oil
1 ½ cups milk
6 eggs

For the filling:

1 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons chopped, shelled, raw pistachios
¼ cup flour
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons Wesson oil

For the glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk

Edible gold flake, for sprinkling on top

Easter candies to fill center of cake when displayed

Directions:

Making the cake:

Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 10-inch (12-cup) Bundt pan.

In a large bowl, whisk together, flour, baking powder and salt until well combined.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine sugar, Wesson oil, eggs, and vanilla; mix well.

On medium speed, in four stages, add flour mixture alternating with milk, blending after each addition, ending with flour. Pour half of the batter into the pan and set aside. Next, make the filling.

Adding the filling:

In a medium bowl, mix 1 ½ cup pistachios, ¼ cup all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons of honey, and 2 tablespoons of Wesson Canola Oil. Combine filling ingredients and mix well. Spoon the filling evenly over the surface of the batter in the pan. Top with remaining batter. Bake the cake in the center of oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a tester inserted in center comes out clean.

Remove cake from oven; cool in pan on a rack for 15 minutes. Carefully turn cake out onto serving platter and cool completely.

TIP: If cake does not turn out easily, gently run a knife around the outside edge of the cake.

Creating the glaze:

In medium bowl, combine 1 cup icing sugar (powdered sugar) and 2 tbsp of 3% milk. Stir until smooth. Spoon icing onto top of cooled Bundt cake and allow to glaze to dry for 15 minutes.

The finishing touch:

Decorate cake with flakes of gold leaf and chopped pistachios. Fill center of the Bundt with your favorite Easter candies. Cut the cake in front of your guests to wow them with an outpouring of sweet treats and serve. To view the recipe online, visit purewesson.com.

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Now might be the time to talk about inheriting wealth

NewsUSA - As a significant portion of the U.S. population ages, a significant transfer of wealth to younger generations is occurring. However, many families have not discussed inheritance plans, and many younger generations may find themselves unprepared, according to new research from Edward Jones, a leading financial services firm.

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The so-called “great wealth transfer” from the Silent Generation and the Baby Boomers will vary.

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In fact, 35% of Americans surveyed by Edward Jones said they did not plan to discuss transfer of wealth with their families, despite 48% saying that they planned to leave an inheritance.

“We know it can be extremely uncomfortable and nearly impossible to separate emotions from the financial decisions necessary when planning inheritance and wealth transfer, particularly as givers navigate family priorities beyond finances,” said Lena Haas, Head of Wealth Management Advice and Solutions at Edward Jones. “However, the wealth transfer is well underway, so it’s more important than ever to connect as a family, with the experienced guidance of a financial professional to help navigate the emotions and educate on the process.”

The so-called “great wealth transfer” from the Silent Generation and the Baby Boomers will vary, as people live longer and may delay retirement. Edward Jones’ research revealed four scenarios:

Traditional Giving.
Older adults transfer wealth through a combination of assets, cash, equities, and real estate.

Giving While Living.
Older adults support their families in the moment, paying for family experiences, contributing to education or purchasing homes. However, this strategy may force younger generations to return the favor and support parents in retirement.

Skipping a Generation.
Some older adults skip over their adult children and transfer wealth to grandchildren, often in the form of education or future security, but this can lead to hurt feelings and strained relations with adult children who do not directly benefit from this wealth transfer.

No Inheritance.
Older adults are living longer, and a combination of more active lifestyles for more years after retirement and/or the expenses of long-term health care means that in some families, little wealth will be left to transfer.

The survey, a joint effort between Edward Jones, Morning Consult and NEXT360 Partners, LLC, a global action research and strategy consultancy, was conducted online between December 28-29, 2023, and included a national sample of 2,202 adults.

According to the survey, only 25% of individuals who receive an inheritance feel prepared to manage it.

Working with an experienced advisor can help, and 57% of those surveyed said that working with a financial professional to guide discussions of wealth transfer and inheritance in advance would facilitate planning and family consensus.

Visit www.edwardjones.com/estateplanning for more information about wealth transfer and financial planning.

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Guest Commentary |Gain some control over your life

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

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Feeling like you have some control over your life is vital for life happiness.

Control is not always easy. It takes planning, sacrifice, work and good fortune.

Lots of things can happen in life that will shake the earth beneath our feet. Illness, weather disaster, a bad accident, and stupid mistakes. We are all vulnerable to any and all of these.

Considering anything can happen in life and chances are it will, we can all still make an effort to be in control of our daily lives.

First, know who you are and build on who you are. There is only one you and there will never be another like you. Chances are you may have become a clone. You started out as an original but became someone else. You may have redesigned your life to be accepted by a certain workforce, group, religious entity, fraternity, sorority, or political party mindset. This works for a while but you won’t be very happy because it requires more work to not be you than it takes to just be you.

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Our country helps millions with Social Security disability and Medicare.

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This doesn’t mean that you can’t be a better you. We all can and should strive to be better, smarter, and the best we can be. Being a lazy, irresponsible, and ignorant are sure ways to not feel good or very secure in life. Life security and a feeling of having control over our lives requires work and living higher. Living lower will sink you. Build on who you are for success and happiness.

Next, you have to work. Yes, we have to work. It’s essential to life security. The person who can work and wants to work will feel better and sleep better. There are all kinds of work and not every kind of work is for everyone. Discover what kind of work you enjoy and can do and learn to do it as well as you can. Working will give you a feeling of well-being. Millions of people in America can’t work for various reasons. Disability happens, millions are handicapped by various health related issues.

Our country helps millions with Social Security disability and Medicare. At least with these government assistance programs people have something on which to survive. Keep in mind that a disability income in never a ticket to prosperity. What you can afford will be very limited.

However, I do know people who have done well investing in the stock market even on a limited disability income and have done amazingly well financially. Keep in mind if you are going to make a house or car payment it requires a serious income and a paying job. Try to lock into a job that you enjoy and can do.

Third, save money and stay out of debt as much as possible. Buy a house you can afford and save some money every month in an IRA or 401k or whatever is available to you. Research index funds and consider buying some stock in an index fund as you can. Index fund fees are typically cheaper. I’m not a stock advisor so do your own investigating.

A school teacher friend bought index fund stocks every month for years and ended up with over a million dollars in stock by her retirement. Money isn’t everything but you’ll sleep better if you know you can buy groceries tomorrow and can pay your utility bills.

Finally, take a few minutes every morning and at the end of the day to be grateful. Give God thanks for all and anything you have and ask him to give you strength, wisdom and peace for the day or throughout the night.

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He is the author of 13 books including Uncommon Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

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