Chocolate cake and a torta della nonna

It’s happened. I simply cannot tolerate any more winter. I hate it. I am sick of snow and ice and freezing everything and the hardness that seeps into even the kindest of souls by this time every year. Also, our internet and phones have been out all day. Thank god for being able to set up personal hotspots via smart phones.

I’ve been baking. Yesterday, Oliver and I made this chocolate cake just because, and today I made atorta della nonna for a friend’s birthday. Torta della nonna, or grandmother’s cake, is a custard filled tart topped with pignoli (pine nuts). I love its simplicity and beauty!

chocolate cake with vanilla bean-cocoa frosting

chocolate cake with vanilla bean-cocoa frosting

torta della nonna

torta della nonna