NORWEGIAN HAZELNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Lightly grease the bottom of one 10 inch springform pan.
• Reserve 8 whole nuts for garnish.
• Pulse the remaining nuts in a food processor until ground, and reserve 1 tablespoon of ground nuts for garnish.
• Melt margarine or butter in a small saucepan over low heat, cool.
• In a large bowl beat eggs, sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until thick and lemon colored (about 2 to 3 minutes).
• Add flour, baking powder, salt, and ground nuts, mix well.
• Continue to beat mixture while slowly adding the cooled melted butter or margarine until blended (mixture will be thick).
• Spread batter into prepared pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F.
• for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool in pan for 15 minutes then remove sides of pan.
• Remove pan bottom and invert onto a serving plate.
• Cover with a cloth towel and cool for another 30 minutes before glazing.
• To Make Glaze: In a medium saucepan bring whipping cream just to a boil, take off heat and stir in the semi-sweet chocolate chips (or milk chocolate) until melted and smooth.
• Stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Spread glaze over top of cooled cake, allowing it to run down the sides.
• Sprinkle reserved ground nuts around top edge and arrange whole nuts over ground nuts.
• Enjoy!