There's always money in the banana stand.

One of my favorite friends had a birthday this week. Nick Bontorno is a dream of a printmaker, a really nice poet and the kind of person that you are just grateful to know. How was I not supposed to make him the very best cake that I could? To be eaten at one of my parties with cake and art auction... So I asked him what kind of cake he would want, and I just got this list from him...

I like chocolate
but I also like chocolate chips
but then again I like zucchini
or banana
I don't know, chocolate is good...
chocolate with chocolate chips?

Every cake I make, I make with objectives. With the intention of always being a better baker. I want to always be progressing in whatever it is I am doing. So I went through some recipes, and played with some ideas, but ultimately came up with what I refer to as, "There is always money in the Banana Stand-Chocolate Cake". Here is what of it consists of: 3 layers of chocolate-chocolate chip cake, with a banana cream filling, chocolate butter cream, and a whipped ganache frosting. The results were pleasently surprising. Even peeps who weren't banana fans were digging this cake.

I made the whole thing up so I will have to formulate the recipe and share it, but it was the perfect combination of banana and chocolate; it kind of cut through the sweet, and the census was that the chocolate chips in the cake really added something. Maybe a contrast of texture? I'm still on the fence about the chips.

We had the cake, and played the game over at our friends the Jimison's and ended up staying till nearly three in the morning discussing anything and everything. I'm so grateful for like minds. Isn't it an amazing thing to have friends who you can really express yourself with, and know you are safe? It's so important that we find these people in our lives. When we do, we really have the opportunity to strengthen each other.

hooray for tonight. I just love a good party