For many of you who may never have heard of the Watergate incident, that's probably because it may have happened before you were born and you were looking out the window in history class, instead of paying attention to the teacher. In 1972, five men were arrested for attempting to break into the headquarters of the DNC at the Watergate office complex in Washington D.C.
'Behind every cloud is a silver lining,' they say, and this particular silver lining is the recipe for the Watergate Cake, popular after that event. I have no idea how or if the cake is connected to the Watergate scandal.
If you know, feel free to inform me in a comment. I'm sure others would like to know too. What matters the most to me, of course, is that it's simple, moist, and delicious!
Watergate Cake, the recipe I was given, a long time ago:
1 regular white cake mix
1 pkg. instant pistachio pudding mix
1 c. 7-Up
1 c. oil
3 eggs
Combine ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Pour into greased Bundt pan and bake at 325 degrees for one hour.
The variation pictured above:
1 regular yellow cake mix
1 box of instant lemon pudding
1 c. Mountain Dew (because I didn't have 7-Up)
1 c. oil
3 eggs
Combine ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Pour into greased Bundt pan and bake at 325 degrees for one hour. Frost with any good cream cheese frosting, such as this one, for which I would like to thank a fellow blogger, but I don't remember which one. So, to whomever posted this recipe, thank you. Of course, this recipe is for the lemon cake. For the pistachio recipe, I would simply eliminate the lemon.
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/8 c. butter, softened
1 T. fresh lemon juice
1 t. lemon zest
1/2 t. vanilla extract
2 1/2 c. confectioners sugar
Combine ingredients. Beat. Drizzle over top of cake, enough so that it runs over the sides. You can see that I got a little carried away on this part, but it was delicious.
Aren't you the luckiest lady alive that I don't live within walking distance of your house!! You know I would be there right now holding out my empty plate.
ReplyDeleteI was indeed born after the scandal, just 2 years, but I did pay attention when we learned about it in school...don't remember them mentioning a cake though. Looks good.
ReplyDeleteLots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
www.mawhats4dinner.com
I was late in coming to the Watergate scandal, but I do know all about it. :) The cake looks and sounds wonderful! I don't care how it got it's name, I'll have two slices please!!!
ReplyDeleteMy friend, the cake looks delicious and became more delicious to me after I read the word 'lemon'.
ReplyDeleteI love lemon anything! But my question to you this morn is...what in the world is Mountain Dew doing in your kitchen!!?? :D (I could go for a piece of that cake though.) lol!
Deborah,
ReplyDeleteMy guess would be that it is there because of JOE. :D
EWWWWWWWWW! (Comment for the Mt. Dew, not Joe)
Stacey, you are SO RIGHT!!!! Joe is the one who brings Mt. Dew into the house. Actually, I would have used 7 Up, but since I didn't have any, and there was only Diet Coke or Mt. Dew in the little fridge, I settled for the latter. :-) And neither one is mine. It's the men in the house who drink that stuff.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful looking cake! It looks like it would be an impressive dessert to serve and an interesting topic starter too!
ReplyDeleteYeah, Michelle. And when I serve it to my young friends, I can tell them about the olden days, when crooks used to go to jail for their crimes. :-)
ReplyDeleteLooks delish. And no, have never heard of it. But will be a must try here. Thanks for linkin up to tasty tuesdays.
ReplyDeleteOh, my! That looks fabulous! I Have heard of Watergate salad but not watergate cake. YUM! :)
ReplyDeleteOh that looks so yummy! I can even make that, well maybe except for the beautiful glaze. Maybe no one will notice.
ReplyDeletep.s. I remember Watergate, even though I was only 10
How funny! I have never heard of it, but it looks delicious. That would have made a much tastier breakfast than what I had!
ReplyDeleteI remember studying about Watergate (I loved history so I paid close attention in that class. Math and Science class are a different story though!) ;)
ReplyDeleteLooks good!! Maybe when I take a stab at baking I'll try it out!
:)
Rach
You have ruined me - I am going to have to try it -
ReplyDeleteIt has lemon in it!! My fave!
Watergate: I remember when the news was covering it all so thoroughly and my mom told me (I was 9ish) this is history - you need to watch this.
sounds yummy!!
ReplyDeleteby the way, I've given you an award. Please go to my blog and check it out.
http://Lindalovesblog.blogspot.com
I have googled everything I can find on where the name came from but can't find a answer anywhere :( Really wanted to find you something to go along with that wonderful looking dessert. :)
ReplyDeleteNo one seems to know..
This looks delicious! I would hope history books in school would cover this. I hope you are well! Have a great night!
ReplyDeleteMama Hen
Cannot wait to make this cake!! Thanks for the recipe!
ReplyDeleteI'm following you from Tuesday Tagalong!
Kristin :)
Keenly Kristin
There is something about pistachios and Watergate, for sure. My mom used to make a Watergate jello salad that was AWESOME. (I love jello salads!) So, of course, I'll have to try this to umm...honor my mom! Riiiiight. :)
ReplyDeleteFirst there's a Watergate Salad and a Watergate Cake. Here's what they say at The Food Time Line about both:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.foodtimeline.org/foodsalads.html#watergatesalad
Watergate Salad was reportedly named by a Chicago food editor for an article, but neither the article nor editor has been tracked down. The full name of the cake is Watergate cake with coverup icing."
---TRIVIA, ROGERS CADENHEAD, Knight Ridder Newspapers, The Record (Bergen County, NJ) March 15, 2000
I've also heard that people were talking about this incident at parties so much the plain cake served with the heavy icing just came to be known as Watergate Cake...? Hope that helps.
YUM!!! That looks great! (how did you know we were looking out the window in history class??) ;)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was glued to the TV during the Watergate scandal. What a time! This cake is fantastic! Love it and really would like a slice right now!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I was wondering if the kitchen of the Watergate Hotel in D.C., built in 1969, had come up with the Watergate cake after the incident in '72.
ReplyDeleteHowever it originated, the cake is definitely worth baking. :-)
That looks so gorgeous, and absolutely luscious!!! Sigh ... :)
ReplyDeleteThat looks really good.
ReplyDelete