Typically, I avoid Walmart like the plague. The Walmart closest to my house is one I particularly avoid because of the parking lot alone. Getting in and out of there is about as long and as difficult as brain surgery. So I ventured a little further out and went to a NEW Walmart. It’s a little further away, but Aaaahhhh! The store itself is SO much nicer than the other one and is half as crowded. I’ve been there twice and I NEVER have to stand in line. . . and I went on a Saturday. I decided that I might frequent Walmart more often now that I’d found this really nice one. That brilliant idea was before I went to leave.

The parking lot! What the HELL? WHO designs these parking lots for Walmart stores? It’s obviously not anyone who SHOPS there. That’s for sure. I was sitting in this parking lot trying to figure my way out and watching other people fumbling around the parking lot, not dissimilar to something like bumper cars, and I was honestly wondering. . . “Was this engineer just trying to find his creative side for kicks or did he get his degree in a Cracker Jack box?” Honestly! Every Walmart that I’ve ever been to has the most ‘effed up parking lots on the planet.

Aside from the parking lot, I really liked this store. I’ve NEVER shopped in their grocery area EVER before, but I wandered over there perusing the isles. I honestly don’t think I could do my weekly shopping there, but they sure did have a lot of really cool stuff. I was very surprised at their produce department! It was fantastic. I grabbed up some of the best looking strawberries that I’d ever seen in a store. . . just because they were so pretty. I’d figure out what to do with them later.

That’s where this Banana Split Cake came into play. Among my eight jillion cookbooks, I found this recipe and I dared to try it. It sounded good in theory, but you never know. I’ve tried plenty of recipes that weren’t so great. (I don’t share those) But I really like being adventurous in the kitchen. This time my adventure came with fantastic results. I recommend it for anyone who likes the flavor pairings of a banana split. Here’s what you need:

BANANA SPLIT CAKE

1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
1 can (15 1/4oz) pineapple tidbits in juice, undrained
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1/4 cups sugar
2/3 mashed banana
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 Semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, divided
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh strawberries
1 cup chopped banana

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour a 12-cup Bundt pan.

Drain pineapple tidbits, reserving 1/4 cup juice. Combine reserved pineapple juice and buttermilk in a small bowl. Let butter and eggs stand to room temperature for about 30 minutes.

Beat butter in large mixer bowl for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar a 1/4 cup at a time, beating on medium speed until well combined. Add eggs, mashed banana and vanilla extract; beat well. Alternately add flour and buttermilk mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips and 1/4 cups of the walnuts. Gently fold in a drained pineapple tidbits, strawberries and banana. Spread batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. cool cake in pan on wire rack for 20 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack. Drizzle cake with Chocolate Glaze and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup walnuts. cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Chocolate Glaze:

Heat 3/4 cup Semi-sweet chocolate chips, 3 tablespoons butter and 3 tablespoons light corn syrup in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Spread immediately.

NOTE: For the buttermilk, I always mix my half-and-half with lemon juice and let it sit for a bit.

And this is what you get! It said to refrigerate for two hours before serving, but I couldn’t wait that long. I cut a piece as soon as I finished putting the glaze on. And it was goooooood. I took it to the office to share and I never got another piece. That’s how it is when I bake. I typically only want to taste it and then my craving is satisfied. Thank goodness I have people that work for me that like free food. It’s like a treat. I’m sweet like that. Get it? Sweet? HaHa! I’m going back in my hole now.

All of this was to declare how my random strawberry purchase at the really nice Walmart paid off. I may not make a lot of trips to Walmart, but my observation has improved a tiny bit.