This is why I don't bake... among other things!

I watch alot of cooking shows.  I love the food network.  Love Giada.  Love Rachel.  Love Emeril.  Love Iron Chef.  Once in a while when I watch Giada (for some reason, she always inspires me to believe I can actually do this...) I will get the bright idea that I can come up with some fabulously tasty culinary creation. Remember the Butternut Squash Debacle?  Well I do!

So for those of you who wanted to know what  Santa cake is, I think you better read this first.  I can share the recipe if you promise to keep it in the family! :)

This is our Santa cake.  I know he looks a little messy.  Believe me, it's an issue I struggle with.  I didn't actually want to let the kids help me decorate him because I wanted him to look perfect.  But I thought that would be really really ridiculous.  So Connor did all the red parts! Which also meant that some of the white got a little messed up too.  But that's not the reason I don't bake.

 See this big crack between the two halves of my Santa.  See all the frosting that is supposed to be holding him together?  See how it has all poured out onto the tray instead of holding him together like it was supposed to?  Yeah, that's because I always take the shortcut.  I decided frosting would surely hold him together as well as Chocolate Ganache (like the recipe called for.)  Right?  Wrong!

This is our elf attacking the cake overnight.  Just thought I'd share that SOMEONE got some joy from the cake.

This is how we found the cake this morning.... you can't tell very well, but there are alot of sections of the cake that are missing their frosting... because Vince... the dog..... stood on his hind legs and licked him clean this morning.  At least all the parts Vince could reach.  Remind me again why I didn't get a teacup poodle?

Anyway, I just wanted you all to know that every time I enter the kitchen, I am reminded again why it's been six months since I last attempted anything closely related to homemaking.  Remember the exploded baked potatoes incident?  Seriously!

Oh yeah... as for the recipe for the Santa.  You have to run down to Willi@ms S0n0m@ and get a santa pan.  The recipe is on the back of the cover.  Or if you're like me and you like to take shortcuts, you can use two boxed cake mixes.  I will take both boxes, by the way.  And icing cannot be substituted for chocolate ganache.  Just in case you were wondering!