MADE FROM SCRATCH CHOCOLATE CAKE

RECIPES THAT WILL END UP BEING YOUR FAVORITES BECAUSE THEY LOOK SO FANTASTIC AND YET ARE DECEPTIVELY EASY TO MAKE

First of all, I know you are going to ask me why anyone would want to make a cake from scratch when it’s so easy to make a cake from a cake mix. Here are a few reasons that I can think of:

· You might not have a cake mix on hand, but if you have all of these ingredients which aren’t really that unusual, you can still whip up a cake at the last minute that is every bit as good as one from a mix or even better

· It is always very gratifying to tell people very nonchalantly that this cake just happens to be a ‘made from scratch’ cake because you know they will be duly impressed

· There is something deeply satisfying about making a cake from scratch—it brings out the ‘Betty Crocker’ in you and makes you feel like a real, down-to-earth baker, the kind your mother or grandmother probably was.

This is a recipe that is as old as the hills, but it’s amazing because it makes the most delicious, moist heavy chocolate cake that ALWAYS turns out and everyone ALWAYS loves it. One of the nice things about it is that it doesn’t hump up in the middle like some cakes do which makes them difficult to frost. This one comes up flat on top each and every time. If you are a chocolate cake lover, and to be honest I don’t know very many people who aren’t, you will love this cake. I usually make it in a 9” x 13” pan, but you can make it in a heavy Bundt pan or in 2 8” cake pans, as well. I prefer the oblong cake pan, though, because I think it makes for a better cake. Here is the recipe:

2 C. flour

2 C. sugar

1 t. salt

Dash of cinnamon

2 sticks margarine (or butter is even better or you can do half and half) melted in 1 C. of boiling water, then cooled.

½ C. cocoa

½ C. buttermilk Put 1 tsp. soda into the buttermilk (If you don’t have any buttermilk, you can substitute regular milk with 1 T. vinegar added to it. Let it curdle.)

2 eggs

1. Put the flour and sugar and salt & cin your large mixing bowl and blend together.

2. 2. Melt the butter/margarine in the water in a small saucepan. Add the cocoa to this mixture and then set aside and allow it to cool.

3. 3.3. Start adding the melted butter and buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture alternately while the mixer is going at a low speed until both are completely mixed in.

4. Add the eggs, one at a time, and continue mixing at a low speed.

5. Turn the mixer up and mix at a medium-high speed for 1 minute or until well mixed.

6.Pour the batter into a greased and floured pan (or spray with Pam).

7. Bake in 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes. Pour chocolate sauce over the top of each piece and top with whipped cream and a strawberry. Very cool!

CHOCOLATE SAUCE

HOT FUDGE SAUCE

1 can evaporated milk

1/2 C. melted butter

Sift together:

1/2 C. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

2 C. sugar

1/4 C. cocoa

Boil until thick like pudding, 5-8 minutes.

Add 1 tsp. vanilla, then put into a blender and whip.

Allow to cool.

This is a wonderful chocolate sauce that is good on about anything, especially vanilla ice cream. But it makes this cake simply out of this world. Enjoy!