Barefoot Contessa Chocolate Cake

For Father's Day, I decided to make Brian a chocolate cake, since I pooped out on his birthday cake and we ended up getting a key lime pie instead. I noticed that the Barefoot Contessa cake was basically the same recipe as my grandma's cake, except that Ina adds a cup of hot coffee instead of a cup of boiling water. Any cake that involves coffee seems like a winner to me, so I thought I'd give it a try.

The cake turned out delicious -- very moist and yummy, except the middle didn't rise the way I'd like it to. I don't know if it was because I used 8" pans or because I used older baking soda. Either way, I'd try it again and hope for a more rounded center.

The frosting is extremely buttery but very yummy. Jack happily licked the spoon and showed his approval with a chocolate mustache.

We'll be trying the finished product after dinner.

Spinach & Sausage Alfredo Lasagna

I had this lasagna at my neighborhood baby shower and had to get the recipe... even though it is incredibly rich and naughty, it's delicious and worth the splurge.

12 oz. (or 9-10) lasagna noodles
1 lb. pork Italian sausage (I like Bob Evans)
10 oz pkg. frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 jar alfredo sauce (preferably with garlic)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 c. shredded cheddar
15 oz. carton ricotta cheese
1/2 c. parmesean cheese
1 c. shredded mozzarella

Soak noodles in hot water for 15 minutes. Drain.

Brown sausage and drain. Add spinach, alfredo, salt and pepper.

In a bowl, combine egg, cheddar, ricotta and parm.

In an ungreased 9x13 pan, dish 1/3 sausage mixture, 3 noodles, and 1/3 cheese mixture. Repeat twice. Top with mozzarella.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.