Without further ado, I'm thrilled to announce the winner of the $500.00 Your Set by Calphalon giftcard.
The winning comment is #20, from The Wileys!!
- I like you on FB!
- February 14, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Congratulations!!! :) :) :)
Chef Chat: Interview with Chef Chris Hastings
Shortly after walking into Birmingham's beloved Hot and Hot Fish Club recently to chat with Chef Chris Hastings, I was greeted by a warm smile, a firm handshake and a bottle of sparkling San Pellegrino by the Chef himself. As far as culinary royalty goes, Chef Hastings is certainly on that list. He's a James Beard winning, Iron Chef conquering, seafood loving, PB & J eatin', passionate and inspiring chef. Read on as he talks about his most unforgettable meal, what it was like competing against Bobby Flay, his awesome advice for serious home cooks, and lots more...
Let's start with what everyone wants to know about a phenomenal chef: What are at least 5 items that you always have stocked in your home kitchen?
- Collection of fresh herbs
- Seasonal fruits and vegetables
- Good olive oils, grains and vinegars, or what I call a well-stocked "larder". Larder being an old term for your cellar or where you store dried goods.
- Interesting sauces, whether they be a sriracha, hoisin or hot-sauce. Things that are in that go-to that I may not necessarily make myself. A well-stocked pantry is very important.
- A six pack of beer from Back Forty Beer Co.
- Red wine
Julia Child's world was changed by a simple dish of perfectly cooked Sole Meuniere. In fact, she described the dish as "...the most exciting meal of my life". Tell me about your most unforgettable meal.
I tend to think first and most often about the meals that I had with my family when I was a child. I was responsible for going out and catching the seafood, and then my mother, grandmother and aunts would cook all of the local vegetables and we'd have these amazing spreads of steamed crabs, oysters, flounder, and shrimp. We'd eat it all family style on a big, huge open table. Those are the things that I remember as most impactful, certainly as a young person, that made me super aware of the value, power and magic of food, and the hope of great food.
"Those are the things that I remember as most impactful, certainly as a young person, that made me super aware of the value, power and magic of food, and the hope of great food."
Professionally, I had a great meal in a restaurant in Venice called Da Fiore. I'll never forget - I had been to the Rialto market that morning and saw all the beautiful ingredients. It was a mind-blowing experience. Then, that evening we went and had a wonderful meal there where we had the famed soft-shelled crabs from Venice. We also had a squid-ink risotto that was still to this day one of my most distinct food memories. We had a beautiful orange gelato for dessert that had an amazing texture and flavor. What I remember most about those things is that they were so simple, yet so delicious and were executed perfectly. It wasn't particularly fancy, but it was just perfect risotto, perfectsoft-shelled crabs and perfect gelato. Having been to the market that morning and seeing all those ingredients really tied together a lot of things for me and the value and importance of it, which was amazing.
The farm-to-table philosophy is such an incredibly important concept. What are some key points about this philosophy that you think readers should know?
Farm-to-table for me, is the way we do business. It's at the core of what we do. One of the most asked questions I get is, "How do I access the ingredients you, the chef, use?" One of the things in the chef industry is how do we solve a problem that is an increasingly worrisome food supply, where we don't know the chemicals going into food and there's no oversight or regulations on chemicals put into food, processed foods and on labeling? We're seeing some really negative results from these things, such as an increase in Asperger Syndrome and ADHD. We instinctively know that what we eat affects our health, and it's just not complicated. What I hope for is that through this farm-to-table movement that we champion here, we can, one purveyor at a time, help businesses not only become recognized, but expand the community's knowledge that they're here and that they show up at farmers' markets and people begin to discover them. The next thing you know, the network that is right now just a restaurant network becomes a community's food supply over time. But, that takes a long time. So, what you have to do is approach it one bite at a time. You plant a seed today and hope that your children's children may live in a world where that seed is a mature tree and they lie under that tree and enjoy a life that is healthier, and that access to better foods is the norm, not the privilege of the wealthy. The farm-to-table concept affords me the best products in the world. I get to play with them everyday and have an amazing time being involved with these people. My hope is that, after I'm long gone, this movement will be evolved and mature enough to solve a lot of problems that I think are tough issues for our country.
"You plant a seed today and hope that your children's children may live in a world where that seed is a mature tree and they lie under that tree and enjoy a life that is healthier, and that access to better foods is the norm, not the privilege of the wealthy."
Where do you stand on the organic vs. not-organic debate?
I'm not a hardliner about organic only. Some chemicals, if used properly, are good. It's when you know what the chemicals can do and how their properties work, and that they have a toxicity period and become non-harmful because it deteriorates over time. Then, I'm okay with that. As long as it's handled well and properly. Would I love things to be more sustainable and organic? Absolutely. But I understand some of the challenges of farming. Where I get a little more concerned is there are challenges when saying "Well, it's strictly all organic." It's difficult for farming communities to go from what they've done for the last 75-100 years to not doing chemicals at all. There has to be a transitional moment. I just want good quality produce, and animals that have been treated in a healthy environment where they're allowed to eat things that aren't loaded up with hormones and chemicals. I worry less about agricultural chemicals than I do about processed chemicals. I think that's a big concern. As long as you aren't using chemicals that are carried over to your food. I worry about the modification of the genetics. That seems unsafe and no one really knows about the long-term affects.
Seasonality is also important. Simple meals made from the very best, seasonal ingredients are always the best...hands-down . How has seasonality been an inspiration to you, and how has it been a restriction?
Seasonality has no restrictions for us, because we have such a network of purveyors around the south and the country that we use. Twenty years ago it was a little more challenging, because we just didn't have the vast network of farmers, and people who raised chickens, goats, pigs...you name it. That infrastructure took a minute to discover, to support and have time to grow, so that it was big enough to not only support their families but then enough to produce to sell to numerous restaurants.
Everybody is quick to fawn over the chef, but who are the heroes of the chefs? Those are the purveyors...The people who give their life to doing something exceptionally well. Whether that's raising oysters, chickens, vegetables, heritage breed animals, make cheese, and on and on. These people are where I get my inspiration, and I'm so indebted to them for their passion and commitment, because we couldn't do what we aspire to do without them. They are our real heroes. They're an extension of our family.
"Everybody is quick to fawn over the chef, but who are the heroes of the chefs? Those are the purveyors..."
When it comes to developing new recipes, what inspires you the most?
The ingredients themselves and their flavors. For example, when you taste the first-of-the-season crawfish, ramps, shad roe, and all kinds of things, tasting them and thinking about them in relation to those things that are available now gives us a lot of inspiration, because you taste it and go, "Wow!". Maybe it's been a year since you've tasted it last. We don't serve things unless they're in their height. Tasting that first-of-the-season ingredient is a wonderful reminder of those flavors and how we combine them and respect those flavors. At the end of the day, you can't put together food that's a whole bunch of food thrown together on a plate. You have to put it together in a logical fashion that allows each one of the flavors to be realized individually, but yet eaten together is a real WOW moment for the guest. That's not easily accomplished. You do it partly through good technique, the combination of ingredients, and textural contrast. You also have to bring some balance in terms of fat and acid to the table. There's a lot of moving parts to a really well-executed dish, even if it's only a handful of ingredients you have to think through a number of things to make it that WOW moment.
Is there a particular culinary trend for 2013 that you're most excited about?
I think that a healthy focus on eating and vegetables being a bigger part of the ratio of what you eat is changing. I think people are getting away from having a big ole' giant piece of protein and then a little bit of vegetables. I think a shift is taking place and a more balanced approach is the becoming the norm.
I see particularly the younger generation very concerned and interested in what's going into their body, where their food is accessed from, learning how to cook better, caring more about the provenance of their food. I think that's a really healthy trend.
If you could eat dinner tonight anywhere in the world, where would it be and what would you order?
In the USA, I'd go eat with Daniel Patterson at COI Restaurant. I think he's doing really great work. I've also never eaten at Paul Bocuse's restaurant, and I think that would be worthwhile. I would want to eat at the very best restaurant in Japan...There's a noodle guy in Japan (I forget his name because I can't pronounce it), and I'd love to eat there. That's a tough question, because there's so many great restaurants.
I love that you're involved with the Alabama Seafood Commission. How have things been going since the big oil spill?
Good! You may know that the Gulf is the most tested and regulated water in the world due to that spill. The science has been really good on the samples of fish and shellfish out of the Gulf, particularly Alabama seafood. We're really interested in getting this amazing, delicious and healthy seafood into the hands of people who, because of the oil spill, may have decided to give it a rest until they're certain that it's okay...And it's fine. We have to train people to get back into the habit of asking the important question of where your seafood is from. For example, 80% of shrimp on the market in America is imported. Where is your fish from? You've got the same problem. You've got a lot of fish from other countries being dumped onto our market that are farm-raised and aren't regulated well, which is scary from a chemical stand-point. We want people to ask themselves these important questions, so that they can get the best quality and support their local communities. It takes us back to the hope of future generations. You want your children's children to be able to go anywhere in their community and get great stuff. Always ask for wild-caught Alabama shrimp and fin fishes. Know who your oystermen and fishermen are and try to really support that. If we don't make a conscious decision to support those people and the chain is broken and a generation drops out of the supply side because business drops and they can't support their family, there's not going to be somebody to step into those shoes and fill it. College graduates don't become oystermen and fishermen. So, we've got to recognize that Gulf seafood has been part of our identity and love of where we are and then realize that if we don't want those traditions to disappear than we have to make a cognizant decision when we go to the grocery store to buy wild-caught Alabama shrimp, oysters, fin fishes, crabs and all of that. If we don't take a personal responsibility for everybody out there, than shame on us because it will go away.
"We've got to recognize that Gulf seafood has been part of our identity and love of where we are and then realize that if we don't want those traditions to disappear than we have to make a cognizant decision when we go to the grocery store to buy wild-caught Alabama shrimp, oysters, fin fishes, crabs and all of that."
With a James Beard award and also a win against Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America under your belt, the past year has been incredible. With such an outstanding career, do you have any plans to open additional restaurants in the future?
It's been an awesome year! Yes, we are actually. We're looking to expand our brand a little bit. So, we're going about the process of figuring it out now, so it's an exciting time.
So tell me, what was it like beating Bobby Flay on Iron Chef?
That was a really cool experience because you don't get invited everyday. That's just one of those things in our world that is very special. I had never really thought about it until they called. It was such a surreal experience. After it happened and we had actually won, we couldn't say anything to anybody. It was like, "What just happened?? Oh my gosh, what does this mean??" It was hard to really get your brain around what it meant until people started to react. Letters poured in from all around, particularly the South. What I realized from this outpouring of emotion was that people were really proud, they were from a southern perspective and loved seeing someone put a really good face on a southern person and business. You know, a lot of times we get painted in a different light. That show really represented the farming community and the food that's produced here. If you saw the show, you could really tell that this was food from somewhere special. Alabamians were really proud, southerners were really proud, and of course we were too. We didn't go into that whole thing with the idea that our goal was to beat Bobby Flay. We said winning for us is not defined by beating the Iron Chef, it's defined by representing ourselves, our brand, our state and our region in an honest, real way. We worked really hard to think about how we wanted to present food. We took pottery from Earthborn Pottery, moon shine, local vegetables and fruits. We applied our sensibilities so that when the judges ate it and you saw the effort that went into it, it was very clearly whom we are and where we're from. It worked. Without the pressure of winning, it allowed us to win.
What would people be surprised to find in your kitchen?
I have a bunch of game that I've shot. It might also surprise people that peanut butter & jelly is my favorite sandwich after work. That might be a shocker. I like black raspberry or blackberry jam and smooth Jif. That's kind of my late night pleasure. That might surprise some folks.
What advice would you give a serious home cook?
Don't be afraid to develop your own style and your own personal approach to food. I find that home cooks are unconfident and so bought into the recipe that they can't change anything. Food is not that way. A recipe is a guideline, unless you're baking. You need to approach it in a way that's not so anxiety ridden. Relax and enjoy the process and channel your inner chef. Just go with it and enjoy it. Cooking should be that. That is the hope of the process, that it's a cathartic, relaxing, enjoyable journey through a creative process that allows you to evolve your thinking, gain some knowledge, develop confidence and begin to think about what you really like and enjoy in cooking. The last thing I'll say, is that to produce good food you need good ingredients, but you also need to understand a balance between fat and acid - olive oil and lemon juice, white wine and butter, vinegar and olive oil. That balance and understanding and how you use it in a judicious way to brighten and intensify flavor so it's maximized is really important.
"That is the hope of the process, that it's a cathartic, relaxing, enjoyable journey through a creative process that allows you to evolve your thinking, gain some knowledge, develop confidence and begin to think about what you really like and enjoy in cooking."
Thanks again to Chef Hastings, for taking the time to meet with me!! His restaurant can be found at:
Hot and Hot Fish Club
2180 11th Court South
Birmingham, Alabama 35205
Birmingham, Alabama 35205
Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday
5:30-10:00pm
5:30-10:00pm
Phone:
205-933-5474
Website:
http://www.hotandhotfishclub.com/
Cookbook:
http://www.hotandhotfishclub.com/cookbook/
GIVEAWAY: Win a $500 Calphalon Giftcard!!
I recently had the opportunity to have lunch with 2 awesome reps from Calphalon, and they told me about something that I think is really cool. They have a new program called "Your Set by Calphalon". Have you ever gone to purchase a new set of pots and pans and wished that you could customize your set instead of being stuck with whatever pots were already included in that particular box set? The brilliant people at Calphalon have remedied that whole problem. They've got a wonderfully interactive website where you can pick and choose exactly which pots you want in your set, so that you can create something special and unique...totally tailored to the way YOU cook.
Starting with a 5 piece base set of core pieces from either Unison Nonstick or AccuCore Stainless Steel, you can add up to 8 pieces from either - or both - collections. So, you could basically have it all, within one set...the convenience of nonstick pans, and the classic performance of stainless steel. Pretty cool, huh??
What I really love about the whole thing is the interactive website, which allows you to not only shop by product but by technique and cooking style. The website will make recommendations for you based on whether you want a pot that's best for soups, braising, stir-frying, roasting, sauteing, etc. Inspirational menu suggestions, detailed use recommendations and great photography/video all come together to round out the experience.
Calphalon gave me an "AccuCore Stainless Steel 3 qt. Saute Pan & Cover" (photo above) to take home for a test drive. I had never really cooked with stainless steel before, since my current set is all nonstick. I love how easy the nonstick pans are to clean. However, it only took me a few uses with this stainless steel pan to see the difference. I've already put it through its paces, and it has impressed me every single time. It's a product that you know is built well. It feels solid and performs incredibly.
I was worried about food getting stuck or burnt, but I was pleasantly surprised. So far, no problems at all. The AccuCore products have a 5 layer construction with a copper core, two internal aluminum layers, and a brushed stainless steel cooking surface and exterior. The copper core produces controlled, even heating and totally eliminates hot spots. It was also surprisingly easy to clean, which made me happy. Plus, it's dishwasher, broiler and oven safe, with a full lifetime warranty.
In summary, I'm so impressed with this saute pan, that I'm seriously considering purchasing an entire set from the AccuCore line. My current set has seen better days, so it's almost that time. And I'm not just saying that because Calphalon gave me one to try. This is an honest review of a product that I feel is a great one. That's why I'm so excited about this giveaway! :)
Speaking of which, let's get to it!!
How to Enter:
Simply leave a comment on this post, which answers the following question:
Which Calphalon product is at the top of your wish list?
Also, for extra chances to win, simply do the following and leave SEPARATE additional comments letting me know that you did:
- Like Sugar & Spice on Facebook
- Follow Sugar & Spice by Celeste on Twitter
- Tweet the following "NEW GIVEAWAY: Win a $500 Calphalon Giftcard!!! @SugarSpicebyC @Calphalon #giveaway http://sugarandspice-celeste.blogspot.com/2013/02/giveaway-win-500-calphalon-giftcard.html"
- Follow the Sugar & Spice by Celeste board on Pinterest
- Entries must be submitted by midnight (CST time) on Wednesday, February 27th.
- A winner will be picked at random (using random.org) and will be announced on Thursday, February 28th.
- Please make sure you include your name and email address so that I will have a way to contact you if you win...especially if you leave a comment using the "Anonymous" option.
- At this time, the contest is open to US residents only.
Carol's Easy Greek Salad
My awesome mom-in-law, Carol, makes the most amazing Greek Salad...It's the stuff of dreams. She makes it often for big family gatherings, and I always save a special spot on my plate for a generous helping. It's fresh, vibrant flavors are incredible, and you know what? It couldn't be any easier to make.
Simply chop up all the ingredients, throw them into a large bowl along with a dash of freshly ground black pepper, a little dressing, feta cheese and VIOLA!
The great thing about this salad is that the longer it sits all cozy and cool in the fridge, the better it gets. That gives all those wonderful flavors time to meld together into a symphony of Greek deliciousness.
Doesn't that sound fabulous?!?
Because of that, this is the perfect make-ahead side dish for your next gathering. Make it the night before and have one less thing to worry with the day of your party. But don't thank me, thank Carol. :)
Bon Appetit, my friends!
Carol's Easy Greek Salad
Adapted from: Carol Ward
Ingredients:
1 head broccoli, chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 head cauliflower, chopped into bite-sized pieces
10 oz. grape tomatoes
6 oz. black or Kalamata olives, pitted
8 oz. white mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup Greek or Italian dressing
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
8 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
Directions:
Combine broccoli, cauliflower, grape tomatoes, olives and mushrooms in a large bowl. Pour dressing over vegetables and season with freshly ground black pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine, making sure all veggies are coated with the dressing.
Place salad in the refrigerator, covered, for at least 2 hours before serving, so that flavors have a chance to meld together.
Just before serving, sprinkle feta cheese over the top.
Note: This salad is even better the day after making it! Simply store the salad in the refrigerator overnight, in a sealed container.
Martie Duncan's Arancini - Perfect for Super Bowl Sunday!
Who's ready for the Super Bowl tomorrow?? If truth be told, I'm probably more excited about the commercials (and food, of course!) than the actual football game, but hey, the commercials are usually awesome. And they better be, especially when the average cost of a mere 30-second ad spot during the game is $4 million!
That's right...$4 Million....WOW.
Awesome party food is an absolute MUST for any Super Bowl party, and my new friend Martie Duncan, from The Next Food Network Star, knows her stuff when it comes to party food. Martie kicked some serious butt on Season 8 of the show as a finalist, and I recently had the opportunity to help her prepare for her latest cooking segment on our local Fox 6 station here in Birmingham. On the segment, she demonstrated how to make her A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Arancini (AKA Italian Rice Balls).
Folks, these are simply irresistible...When you bite into that first perfectly-fried little sphere, your tastebuds are greeted by cheesy, meaty, melty goodness! And you can't eat just one...Oh, no...I won't tell you how many I had before we left the studio that day! Hah.
These are super easy to make and are perfect for a large crowd. Here are some tips that I learned from Martie along the way:
1. You can make these ahead and freeze them. Simply thaw and fry as usual just before your guests arrive.
2. The recipe calls for 1 lb of ground beef + 1 lb of veal. To save money, you can simply use 2 lbs of ground beef.
3. This recipe can easily be doubled, if feeding a larger crowd.
4. It's best to use sticky rice.
5. If you're pressed for time, use store-bought marinara sauce.
Now, hurry and make these very soon. You'll thank me, I promise. :)
CLICK HERE for the recipe.
Be sure to visit Martie's website, Martie Knows Parties, for lots of great party-planning tips, tricks and recipes!
Here's Martie in action on Fox 6 News/Good Day Alabama:
Creamy Orzo with Bay Scallops, Asparagus & Parmesan
I'm currently working on a fun project, that I'm so excited about...I'm photographing a cookbook all about fresh seafood from the Gulf of Mexico, and I can't wait to see the finished book. It's going to be filled with awesome recipes and everything you need to know about all the different species of fish found in the Gulf. And I don't know about you, but it's pretty hard to beat a plate full of fresh, yummy seafood!
This recipe is a family favorite around our house and is easy, delicious and incredibly comforting. Fresh, sauteed bay scallops are the star of this dish, which will make an appearance in the upcoming book.
The creamy orzo pairs perfectly with the satisfying crunch of the asparagus, and the addition of grated Parmesan cheese rounds it out wonderfully. In fact, this recipe is a new version of THIS DISH that you might remember from an earlier post. That recipe has become such a big hit with you guys, that I decided to add a little bit of a new spin to it.
I hope you like it. :)
Bon Appetit, my friends!
Creamy Orzo with Bay Scallops, Asparagus and Parmesan
By Celeste Ward
Ingredients:
1 lb. bay scallops
1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
1 lb. orzo pasta
1 cup asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces
5 Tbsp butter or margarine, divided
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, plus more for garnish
1/2 tsp salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions:
Rinse scallops and pat dry. Set to the side.
Melt 1 tbsp of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft, about 4 - 5 minutes. Remove the onions to a plate and set aside.
Next, add 2 tbsp of the butter to the skillet and melt over medium heat. Add the prepared scallops and sauté for 4 - 5 minutes. Place scallops on a heated platter and cover with foil.
Fill a large sauce pan of water with 4 - 6 quarts of water and bring to a boil. Add the orzo and stir.
After the orzo has been boiling for 5 minutes, add the asparagus to the same pot and continue to cook for 5 additional minutes. Once the orzo and asparagus are cooked and tender, drain well and pour into a large mixing bowl.
Quickly add the parmesan cheese and the final 2 tbsp of butter to the orzo and asparagus mixture. Stir thoroughly, allowing both the cheese and butter to melt. Slowly add the cream, while stirring. Next, add the sautéed onions, scallops and fresh parsley. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with additional parsley.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Fudgy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake...Sinfully Delicious!
Folks, this just might be the most decadent, mouth-wateringly rich, sinfully delicious cake that I've ever made...seriously.
Brad wanted a chocolate-peanut butter cake for his birthday this year, and you know how it goes - Ask, and you shall receive! I wanted to make my awesome hubby an extra-awesome cake this year. I came across this recipe over at Smells Like Home, and I stopped in my web-searching tracks the minute I saw it.
It was perfect looking - Three rich, extra chocolately layers of cake were surrounded by a creamy, peanut-buttery icing. And if THAT wasn't enough to get your mouth-watering, it was all topped off with a gorgeous layer of chocolate ganache, artfully dripping down the sides of the cake.
Seriously!?
You'd think that this cake would take hours upon hours in the kitchen to skillfully create. The truth? It's easy. I promise. Trust me!
This cake is absolutely worth every single calorie that is hiding inside of it. The icing...OHHH the icing! It's beyond words. Please make this soon...You NEED this cake in your life. :)
Fudgy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
Adapted from: Sky High: Irresistible Triple-Layer Cakes, via Smitten Kitchen and Smells Like Home
Ingredients:
For the cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch process
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup neutral vegetable oil, such as canola, soybean or vegetable blend
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 tbsp distilled white vinegar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups creamy peanut butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup plus 2 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 tbsp plus 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 tsp Kosher salt
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 8 oz semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 3 tbsp smooth peanut butter
- 2 tbsp light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup half-and-half
- To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease (no flour is needed here) three 8-inch round cake pans with butter or baking spray. Line the bottom of each pan with a round of parchment paper and lightly grease the paper.
- In a very large bowl, sift the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine them well. Add the oil and sour cream and whisk to blend. Gradually beat in the water – splashing may occur if you add it too quickly (trust me). Blend in the vinegar and vanilla. Whisk in the eggs and beat until well blended. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and be sure the batter is well-mixed and no flour bits remain. Divide among the 3 prepared cake pans – using a kitchen scale really helps to ensure the layers will be equal in size.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes on the same rack, if possible, without the cake pans touching each other, or until a cake tester or wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean. Let cool in the pans for about 20 minutes. Invert onto wire racks, carefully peel off the paper liners, and let cool completely.
- To make the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, place the peanut butter and butter. Sift the sugar into the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and salt. Starting on low and gradually increasing (to prevent the sugar from covering your kitchen) the speed to medium-high, beat the ingredients until light and fluffy, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed, about 3-4 minutes. Beat in the heavy whipping cream.
- To frost the cake: Place one layer, flat side up, on a cake stand, cardboard cake round, or large serving plate. Spread 2/3 cup of the peanut butter frosting evenly over the top. Repeat with the next layer. Place the last layer on top and frost the top and sides of the cake with a scant amount of frosting to make a crumb coat to keep the crumbs from popping through the final frosting. You’ll need just enough to lightly cover the cake – there’s no need to be neat here. Let the cake chill for 15 to 30 minutes until firm, then use the remainder of the frosting to create a smooth final coating. Once the cake is fully frosted, chill the cake again and let it firm up before covering it with the ganache.
- To make the ganache: In the in a medium bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, combine the chocolate, peanut butter, and corn syrup. Cook, whisking often, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk in the half-and-half, beating until smooth. Use while still warm. (I put the ganache in the fridge for a very short time, just to help it firm up a bit before adding it to the cake. I didn't want it to be too "drippy".)
- To decorate with the ganache: Gently pour the ganache over the top of the cake, and using an offset spatula, spread it evenly over the top just to the edges so that it runs down the sides of the cake in long drips. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes to allow the ganache to set completely. Take the cake out of the fridge about 1 hour before serving – it will be difficult to cut through the ganache if it is too cold.
