Happy Grandparent's Day!

I was blessed to grow up with three of my four grandparents.  I wish that I had known my paternal grandfather better, he passed when I was quite young, and I would have loved for my children to have known all of my grandparents.  How spoiled they would have been! 

My Paternal grandparents

My Maternal Grandparents

But seriously, as a youngster you never really appreciate the wisdom that those who come before you can share.  I wish that I had listened a little closer to the stories and I really wish that I had watched while my Southern grandmothers cooked!  In the South food is a way to show love and my grandmothers apparently really loved their families! 

While I will never be able to make biscuits like my Great Grandmother (that takes a special touch that is apparently not passed down to Great Grandaughters!) and I can't seem to find my Nana's pickle recipe (I have nothing against store bought, but there is no comparison to a homemade pickle!), my Mom and I have been trying to replicate my Grandma's recipe for Pistachio Cake for years.  Here is my latest attempt: 

If you cut the cake you will get a surprise- some chocolatey goodness wrapped into the batter! 

Here is my version of the recipe.  I believe it originally came from allrecipes.com (specifically Pistachio Cake IV by Coco Loco).  

Pistachio Cake with Chocolate

1 yellow cake mix 

1 3.4 ounce package of Instant Pistachio Pudding 

1 cup water

3/4 cup canola oil (The original recipe called for vegetable oil. I use canola oil in all my     baking) 

4 eggs

3/4 cup chocolate syrup (like you would use for ice cream sundaes) 

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees (F).  If you are using a nonstick or dark pan (as I did) lower the temperature to 325.  Grease and flour (or use your favorite cake release on) a Bundt pan. 
2. Mix together the cake and pudding mixes.  Pour in the water, oil and eggs.  Mix well.  (I used a mixer, the recipe does not specify.)  
3. Pour half of the batter into the pan.  
4. Mix the chocolate syrup into the remaining batter.  Pour this mixture over the top of the batter in the pan.  The recipe says not to mix, but I think I am going to "swirl" it in a little bit to make it look a little more interesting. 
5. Bake for 50 minutes (regardless of regular or nonstick pan) or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.  Cool before removing from pan. 

I think next time I will drizzle a little chocolate syrup over the cake before I serve it.  My daughter suggested a chocolate ganache over the top which would probably be excellent as well. 

I am not sure if this is exactly like my Grandmother's recipe, but it is moist and delicious! 

Happy Grandparent's Day to you and to your Grandparents!  If yours are still with you be sure to hug them extra tight today (or at least give them a call!) 

Thanks for stopping by! 

~Cynthia