Cooking with Ben: Pistachio Cake

"Papa have go dinner wuth freends" said Ben, "me help make kake in kichen, cuz me like help bake." While it's true that we have to make a cake to take to a picnic later today, it's not true that we're making the cake entirely from scratch; we're getting a little help making our pistachio cake from Betty Crocker and Jello, but the recipe is easy, and, Papa says "especially easy when you have two little bears trying their best to help out in the kitchen."

"Furst we pur the dry stuff in the bowl and mix it all arund good" explains Ben.

Another kitchen helper has arrived, he's making sure that Ben and Papa are doing every thing correctly.

Jerry volunteered to crack the eggs and add the yolks and whites to the bowl. Ben inspected the work and concluded "Jerry deed a beary gud job!" Next Papa mixes the batter and carefully pours it into the baking ban.

Jerry says he'd better inspect Papa's work, so he looks the pan over slowly and makes sure the batter is even and smooth. "It look gud" he says. "We eat now?" "Well, not yet Jerry" says Papa, "the cake has to bake for 40 minutes, and then we have to add some yummy frosting." "Frusteen!!" explains Jerry, "Ben and me luv frusteen!"

After the cake is done baking and has cooled for at least 30 minutes, Papa mixes up the frosting and lets both Jerry and Ben try spreading the pistachio frosting on the cake. "Ben do gud job" laughs Jerry, "he kan frust, and me lick the frusteen bowl and spoon!"

"Here is the reeseepee if yu want try our kake" Ben says, but Papa corrects him, and says that little bears shouldn't talk with their mouths full of cake!

Easy Pistachio Cake

Ingredients:

1 pkg. plain white cake mix

3 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup 7-up

2 oz. chopped walnuts or pecans

1 package pistachio instant pudding mix, 4-serving size

Frosting:

1 pkg. instant pistachio pudding, 4-serving size

1 cup milk

9 oz Cool Whip

Preparation:

Beat cake mix with eggs, 7-up, nuts, and 1 package pudding together. Bake in bundt pan or 9 x 13 inch pan at 350 degrees (farenheit) for 40 to 45 minutes, don't over bake. Cool cake and remove from pan. Mix second package of instant pistachio pudding mix with milk. Beat well for several minutes until the mixture is thick.  Fold in Cool Whip. Frost cake and share with your blog pals!