The Baker's Heel: The Valentine's Day Challenge

I like to consider myself a baker, but you know what? I hate making cakes. I can't really explain why, I don't think I have a valid reason for it.

Even after that notion has lived in my head for a few years, some how I decided that I was going to make a cake this weekend. It was my boyfriend's birthday and of course, Valentine's day is on the 14th.

Instead of starting out with something simple, I decided to go big! Big as in; a two tiered devil's food cake with strawberry frosting, covered in ganache! It would be my version of chocolate and strawberries, the traditional Valentine's day food. Did I mention that I actually don't like Valentine's day? I'm just not a big fan.

Not sure what I was thinking with this cake. The cake was a messy affair. It initially started with funny texts to my roommate, and then me getting off work at 8 at night and then proceeding to buy all of my supplies, including cake pans. And sangria.

Step one, drink half a bottle of Bacardia Sangria before you do anything else, And then get your roommates drunk. And then start to cook. Yeah, I totally finished at midnight.

I mean, baking cake is pretty basic. Combine ingredients and mix, blah blah blah. Except, for somehow I missed the note where chocolate powder goes everywhere when you turn the mixer on. Duh.

In the long run, this is what you get.

Bake and cool. And then frost.

So I love Martha Stewart, she's a little waaaay too OCD for me in her designs, but she has good recipes. I borrowed her strawberry frosting for my cake. Initially, the frosting was too sweet so I added more puree, which was very fortuitous on my behalf. It was a great balance to how much chocolate was in this cake.