One of the easiest desserts to make, but one that you will get asked to make over and over.
When I was younger, my grandma was my best friend in the whole world. We would shop together, do our nails, cook at home and dream about the future. She always said she couldn’t wait til I was 16 so that I would be able to drive over whenever I wanted. It makes me so incredibly sad to think that never happened. She passed away when I was still in middle school and gah I still miss her something fierce.
I still have dreams about her though. Her coming down the stairs in her house and saying hello. And her sitting in front of her vanity in the bedroom doing her hair just right. I literally cling to those dreams when I wake up.
It also makes me sad that my kids will never know my grandma. She would have spoiled them even more then she did us, if that is possible. I am so incredibly happy that my kids got to know Ryon’s grandparents before they passed though. They called them “grandma and grandpa” even though they were their great grandparents.
And boy did they get spoiled. Grandpa would love to send the kids gifts for every holiday. We will have stickers for many, many, many years to come because those were his favorite thing to send.
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Grandma was known for her cooking and gardening. This pistachio dessert was her specialty. I’m sure it has another name, but everyone has called it “grandma’s pistachio dessert” for as long as I’ve known. It is a treat when we make it and we love to talk about grandma and grandpa while we take bites.
It’s easy to make and whenever we had a church potluck or family event, grandma would have this dessert in tow.
When grandpa passed away, we took the kids to the funeral. We explained to them that grandpa was with Jesus and was no longer sick. Ryley, in her beautiful innocence looked up at the casket and said “He went to Jesus in his treasure box!” That sentence. That sweet sentence from my 4 year old baby girl. It still makes me tear up and it probably always will. Yes, my love. He went to Jesus in his treasure box.
Grandma passed away a few months after grandpa. She just couldn’t be without him. At her funeral, pastor pulled out a giant picture of Jesus pulling caskets from a field and placed it in front for us all to see. The message was so beautiful – Jesus would come back for all of us, even after we left this world in our treasure boxes. Pastor crafted a whole sermon around what Ryley had said just a few months earlier.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44
The kids still remember and talk about grandma and grandpa. Mostly because they had an old Mickey train set that all the great grandkids loved to play with when they visited. But Ryley always mentions their treasure boxes. “They are with Jesus in their treasure boxes, right mommy?” Oh sweet girl. They are.
I am so glad that my kids have sweet memories (aside from the treasure boxes and train set) of their great grandparents. We will do whatever we can to carry on their memory as well. Like with grandma’s pistachio dessert and fun stories of grandpa putzing around the yard.
- Cookie crust:
- 1¼ cup sugar
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2½ cup flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 package instant pistachio pudding mix - http://amzn.to/1DUL8n1
- 2 cups cold milk
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup of sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Beat together the sugar and butter until creamy.
- Add in the egg and mix until combined.
- Add the flour, salt baking soda and cream of tartar until combined.
- Press the cookie dough into a 9x13 baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
- Cook for 20 minutes, or until the edges start to brown.
- Remove and allow to cool completely.
- While the cookie crust is cooling, whip together the pistachio pudding and milk until it starts to thicken.
- Pour it over the cooled cookie crust and place in the fridge.
- Pour heavy whipping cream into a chilled bowl.
- Using a stand or hand mixer, mix for 2-3 minutes until soft peak form.
- Add your sugar and vanilla.
- Mix for an additional minute until it the peaks are firmer.
- Spread the whipped cream over the pistachio pudding, cover and let chill for about an hour.
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I’m so sorry that you lost your grandma so young. Thanks for sharing her recipe with us. This looks so delicious, Kelley!
Thanks Andi! Recipes have a way of keeping great memories alive. So glad I have both recipes and memories 🙂
Thank you for sharing your sweet memories of your Grandparents! Both sets of my Grandparents have now passed away but I am so pleased that I have inherited cookbooks from both of my Grandmothers 🙂 The recipes in those books and memories surrounding them are precious indeed! Your recipe has been pinned!
That’s so awesome that you have their cookbooks! Such a special gift for sure!
Grandma loved you to the moon and back Kelley….you were her girl! She would be so proud of you and all your accomplishments as I am. And it is so awesome that you are writing all these memories and stories for all to enjoy for years and years to come.
Thanks momma! I need to write them down so I don’t forget.. I’m getting old ya know!
What an inspiring and touching story. I never got to know my grandmother but I hear she was a great cook. It is so wonderful you still have her recipes 🙂
Recipes have a way of keeping family memories alive. I’m so thankful for the recipes AND the memories! 🙂
What a nice tribute to your grandma, Kelley! I feel the same way….my kids never got to meet either of my grandmas and it really is sad! I love that you are sharing one of her recipes, which looks amazing, by the way. What a great way to keep her memory alive!
Thanks so much friend! It is such a great dessert. I’m glad so glad I got to meet and know the lady who made it!
It is just the right time of year for such a dessert. Thank you for sharing your family recipe and the story behind it.
Oh my pleasure Debra! Hope you enjoy!
Kelley, it sounds like you and your grandma were very close, and this dessert looks so perfect. I’m going to make it soon; it reminds me of something my grandma would’ve made, too. Your little one’s sweet words just melted my heart, by the way. I know you will always cherish that precious memory of her saying that! Hugs to you, friend!
Thank you sweet friend! Ryley always seems to know what to say to melt this momma too. Hope you enjoy if you make it! HUGS!
Aww, Kelley… You’re making me cry! Such sweet memories that will be with you forever. My boys never met my grandparents either but I tell stories. I’m so glad you shared this and the AMAZING dessert.
Grandmas are the best. So glad my kiddos got to know Ryon’s grandparents before they passed. Plus they gave us such great recipes too!
GRANDMAS are the best thing in the world!! I miss mine so much! Beautiful post and recipe!! ?
Agreed Kate! Grandmas are the best! Thanks so much lady 🙂
Thank you Kelly for the nice recipe.
My please Liz! Hope you enjoy!
This was one incredible dessert! Kudos to your Grandma! I have one question, do you think it would work well with other flavored puddings? I adore the pistachio but my cousin makes a pistachio dessert and don’t want her to feel I’m nudging her out of her specialty at family events (although this recipe puts hers to shame but I’d never tell). Thank you!
Oh I bet it would be great with other flavors. Chocolate.. or coconut would be great!
Those both sound incredible! I decided to try lemon pudding after seeing it in the store and my goodness, incredible! The best lemon bar I have ever had by far! Thank you and you Grandmother so much for an amazing recipe. Bravo!
Woohoo!!! So glad you liked it Julie! I will have to try it with lemon soon!
Holy moly this looks amazing! Grandmas always have the best recipes.How awesome to be able to share her with so many of us. I will be making this tomorrow.Thank you!
Thanks Courtney! It is one of our favorites for sure!
Pistachio is my favorite dessert flavor hands down! I cheated a but and will be making with sugar cookie dough, but can’t wait to try it!!
Hope you enjoy! It’s one of our favorites for sure!
Where is the recipient?.
The recipe is at the bottom of the post below all the pictures 🙂
I was scouring the internet for a delicious potluck dessert to take to my work Christmas party pot luck. I -ame across this! I think I found the winner recipe to make and take.
I started to read your story and kind of had to skip through it. I apologize it’s just, it hit me in a soft spot. My grandma raised me and was also my best friend. She is getting up there in age and I fear the day I get the call about her passing. So even thinking about that had me in tears. I feel you, even though mine is here today. I have dreams of her passing away and her spirit hugging me, telling me to not cry. That I’ll see her real soon.
I hope everyone loves the dessert! And I understand the skipping through the post – it was a bit heavy but it was grandma’s dessert so I wanted to honor her. I pray your grandma lives many more happy years with you! Thank you for the heartfelt comment Tiffany!
I love a recipe that makes cry because about the immense amount of love involved. This is the first one to ever do that to me. I loved my grandmother more than anything as well. The story of your daughter and the treasure box is a sweet reminder about the innocence of life and loss. I will be making this recipe this weekend so know that your grandmother’s tradition still lives on through your work. Be proud. Thank you so much for writing this. It truly made my day 🙂
Thank you very much Victoria! I love your comment and I hope you enjoy the dessert! THANK YOU!