A Chocolate Lover's Cake

     If you were to ask my family they all would tell you that I am good at talking, I love farming and gardening, and that I love horses, but they probably wouldn't say anything about cooking....but I love to cook. I don't always get the chance to make things for everyone since I live so far away from them all. So Christmas '08 I came in with some really yummy and cute looking cupcakes everybody was surprised that I made them. Well thanks to my Grandma Dorothy, I get the 'Taste of Home' magazine, which is full of all sorts of fun things to make. It is also where I got the idea for the cupcakes last year before Christmas and this year in the pre-Christmas magazine there was this yummy lookin' chocolate cake on the front and I wanted to make it for Christmas, cause I know my sister-in-law's would love it, but if you have read my previous post's then you would know it was kinda crazy at that time and it wasn't happening. So when I found out that one of my best friends was coming to visit at the beginning of the month I decided to make it and it turned out wonderfully!!!

Chocolate - Strawberry Celibration Cake

Cake

1 pkg. (18-1/4 oz.) Chocolate cake mix

1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) instant chocolate pudding mix

4 eggs

1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream

3/4 cup water

1/4 cup canola oil

4 oz semisweet chocolate, melted

Frosting

2 cups butter, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

3/4 cups baking cocoa

1/2 cup milk

Garnishes

2 oz. semisweet chocolate, melted

1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled

Ganache

4 oz. semisweet  chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Cake

Comebine all seven cake ingredients; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Transfer to two greased and floured 9-in round baking pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 28-32 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutesbefore removing from pans to wire racks to cool completly

Frosting

Beat butter, powdered sugar, and cocoa until blended; add milk adn and beat till smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake.

Arrange straberries on top of cake.  

Ganache

Place chocolate in a small bowl. Heat cream just to a boil; pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Drizzle over the top of the cake allow ganache to drape down the sides 

Chocolate Garnish

Pipe or spoon melted chocolate ontowaxed paper in decorative designs; let stand until set.

Top cake with chocolate garnish

Next time I make it I would probably use a 9"x13" and probably use 2 lbs strawberries on it. It is really easy to make and look great and is so good!!!