Grandma Smith's Chocolate Cake

On Friday night, John was coming home from a week in Minneapolis.  I surely am glad that he doesn't have to travel often.  I made him a special welcome-home dinner with some help from my mom, who was here for a visit.

 

The dinner table ready

For dessert, we made a chocolate cake using my Great-Grandma Smith's recipe.  I never met her, but I hear marvelous things about her.  Her name was Flossie and, naturally, she was my Grandma Smith's mother-in-law.  I know what it is to be blessed with a great mother-in-law.  

I love moist cakes, and this one is very moist, very easy, and very chocolaty.  

 

Deep Black Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

2 c. flour 

2 c. sugar

1 c. cocoa

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder  

1 tsp. salt

2/3 c. shortening (I used 1 stick of softened butter)

2 eggs

2 c. boiling water

Method

Mix all ingredients and add boiling water.  Bake in greased [and floured] pan at 350F for 25-30 minutes. 

I chose to frost it with Rich Chocolate Buttercream from my Southern Living cookbook, which, after I'd made some substitutions, also had an entire cup of cocoa in it!  Rich, chocolaty, yummy . . .

Our table after dinner and dessert

One thing I did learn was that it's not the best idea to serve a hungry man spicy Indian food and deep black chocolate cake around midnight and right before bed.  My poor husband had reflux for over a day!