Homage to the Leaning Tower of Pissa...

It is once again time for the bro's work cake auction. Last year it was the $90 cake and got beat by $15. This year I was determined to get the highest bid...yes yes it's not a competition it's for charity...whatever. I decided to pander to the masses (though it's not hard to pander when I am card carrying chocoholic!) and make the ultimate chocolate cake - 16 layers of cake and mousse topped with chocolate ganache.

The plan was not to pay hommage to the tower of pissa. Plan was not to present a chocolaty mess. Plan was to make it elegant, inviting, at the very least, pretty something like this.

But I had issues from the beginning. My willy nilly method of cutting sugar bit me in the behind. Apparently I really should pay attention the sugar egg ratio! Lesson learnt (maybe.)

Mousse should be made the night before, or at the very least a couple of hours in the freezer. Lesson learnt. Really should smooth out the cake before frosting and ganaching. All these led to the homiest cake I've ever made!

But apparently this is what a $230 cake looks like. With corporate and government matching this is actually a $1311 cake. All money raised goes to the Ottawa trauma centre (a bit ironic, no?!) You can get the more elegant professionally made cake shipped for $75 +tax (not sure where, google pls.)

This mess is one of a kind. Mine.

Oh yes, got beat by $20 by a "brownie explosion." Damn it! Back o the drawing board...I will get you yet my pretty.