2 c. flour
1 1/4 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. buttermilk or sour milk
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
3 tbsp. cocoa

Mix all dry ingredients together. Cream sugar and shortening thoroughly. Add eggs and continue beating after each addition until light and fluffy. Add vanilla to buttermilk. Blend in the cocoa to the creamy mixture. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture alternately with liquid, adding dry ingredients first and last and beating after each addition. Blend in 1/2 cup boiling water. This brings out the color in the cocoa. Pour equal amounts of batter into 2 greased and floured cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. (Hint to make sour milk, blend 1/3 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice to 3/4 cup milk.)

SOMETHING SPECIAL CHOCOLATE ICING:

Cream together: 1 tbsp. butter 1 tsp. vanilla Pinch of salt

The something special is 1 egg (well beaten). Beat in enough powdered sugar (about 1 cup) to spread easily. Frosting which is beaten with an electric mixer will have greater volume and will be fluffier than that beaten by hand.