Happy Birthdays

It has become a bit of a trend for me to bake for the birthdays of my friends and co workers. I find baking for birthdays one of the most enjoyable times in my kitchen because I get to create something specifically to celebrate one special person. Before each birthday--unless I've been given specific instructions--I try very hard to translate the personality of each person into the form of a baked good; this is not always an easy task! However, the last person I baked for made my job easy by picking a recipe from my favorite book...which I sort of followed. So, by request, here is my recipe for a mixed nut, double chocolate torte with bittersweet chocolate ganache...

Ingredients

   CRUST

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon cold butter
• 6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 
  FILLING:
• 1 cup walnuts
• 1 cup pecan halves
• 1 cup almonds
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 8 oz bitter sweet chocolate
• 8 oz semisweet chocolate

   GANACHE:

   8oz bittersweet chocolate

   1 1/2 cups heavy cream

   1 tsp vanilla extract

• In a small bowl, combine flour and sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Add cream and vanilla, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased fluted 11-in. tart pan with removable bottom; set aside.
• Place nuts in a food processor; cover and process until chopped. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, butter and extracts until smooth. Stir in chocolate and nut mixture; pour into crust.
• Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until center is set. Cool on a wire rack. Store in the refrigerator. Garnish with whipped cream and bitter sweet ganache.