PAULA DEEN'S CHOCOLATE GANACHE CAKE

Steps:

• Cake:.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease and flour 3 (9 inch) cake pans.
• In a large bowl,beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
• Add sugar,beating until fluffy.
• Add egg yolks,one at a time,beating well after each addition.
• In a medium bowl,combine flour and baking powder.
• In a small bowl,combine milk,buttermilk,cream and vanilla.
• Add flour mixture to butter mixture,alternately with milk mixture,beginning amd ending with flour mixture,beating until just combined.
• In a medium bowl,beat egg whites at medium speed with an electric mixer until stiff.
• Gently fold egg whites into batter.
• Spoon batter evenly into prepared pans.
• Bake for 22-24 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes clean.
• Let cool in pans for 10 minutes.
• Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
• Spread Vanilla Buttercream in between layers and on top and sides of cake.
• Place cake in freezer for 30 minutes.
• Pour warm ganacheover top of cake letting it run down sides.
• Garnish with chocolate covered strawberries if desired.
• Vanilla Buttercream:.
• In a large bowl,beat butter and shortening at medium speed with a electric mixer until creamy.
• Gradually beat in icing sugar until smooth.
• Beat in vanilla.
• Chocolate Ganache:.
• In a medium bowl combine cream and chocolate.
• Microwave on high in 30 second intervals,stirring between each,until chocolate is melted and smooth(about 2 minutes).
• Let cool for 10 minutes.