On the cooling rack: Cake fit for the Oscars

Yes, yes, I know it's been a while. Let's just chalk it up to "issues".

Some friends of mine in the movie-making business hold an annual Oscar-watching party akin to most people's Super Bowls. There is commentary (always a riot), yelling ("get off the stage! No one wants to listen to you!"), and a most divine spread of food. Ohhhhhh, the food. While Jeff gets his jollies with friends in front of the TV, Jana is in the kitchen making dish after dish of gourmet goodness. I asked what I could bring and this was the conversation:

Jana: Well, you could either bring syrups and cream for the Italian soda machine, or you could make a dessert. But don't go all out - it's not a big deal. Don't stress over it at all.
Me: Oh, yeah right. I know you all too well, Miss Jana. What are you making for dinner?
Jana: Just 5 different kinds of gourmet pizzas - probably around 20 of them.
Me: Uh huh, well, I'll make a dessert, of course.
Jana: Seriously, don't stress over it.
Me: Ok, I'll just make a pan of brownies from a mix. But since it's the Oscars maybe I'll make TWO pans.

I decided to bring this instead:

Did you see the stage show by Cirque du Soleil?? I need to get my fat butt to Vegas!

On the cooling rack: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

We had a celebration at church last week. I signed up to make a cake, thinking I'd just do something I always do. But then I was flipping through a library book and saw a cake with piped henna on it, and wanted to do something similar, though my piping skills are minimal at best. Like, I know how to put a parchment cone together and squeeze frosting out of it.

After a lot of time and a LOT of swearing, this was the result:



Not perfect, but a good jumping off point. The best part was the taste. Oh heavens....devilishly good. Four layers of dense chocolate cake with peanut butter and milk chocolate chips, filled with creamy peanut butter straight up, then frosted with my favorite semisweet chocolate buttercream, and the piped peacock is in a whipped peanut butter frosting.

Pass the milk, please.