A Piece of Cake

Sometimes I find myself wishing for a piece of cake.  At those moments I want something simple and reminiscent of the ones I grew up with, like a yellow cake with chocolate frosting.  It’s nothing fancy or architectural, nothing I have to think about before enjoying.  It is simply pure pleasure for the child in us all.  Take your favorite yellow cake recipe and bake it in two layers.  As it cools, take 16 ounces of heavy cream and heat to boiling with a pinch of salt.  As the cream is on the stove chop 16 ounces of your favorite chocolate, today I used gianduja, and put in a heatproof bowl.  Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and stir until completely melted and homogenized.  If you like you can add a splash of your favorite liqueur.  Place in the refrigerator to chill, stirring occasionally. When the ganache is cold, place it in the bowl of a mixer and whip to your desired consistency.  Place one cake layer upside down on a plate and spread with half of the ganache.  Top with the other layer and spread the top with the remaining ganache. It’s the perfect cake for a household like ours, the frosting is thick for those that like it and easily removed for those that don’t.  Cut a thick slice and pour yourself a cup of coffee.  Find a quiet, comfortable spot preferably with a view and enjoy the experience.  Tender cake and fluffy, nutty chocolate, now what could be better than that?