1 c. unsifted unsweetened cocoa
2 c. boiling water
2 3/4 c. sifted all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 c. butter, softened
2 1/2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

In medium bowl, combine cocoa with boiling water, mixing with wire whisk until smooth. Cool completely. Sift flour with soda, salt and baking powder. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease well and lightly flour 3 (9-inch) layer cake pans.

In large bowl of electric mixer, at high speed, beat butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla, scraping bowl occasionally, until lightly, about 5 minutes. At low speed, beat in flour mixture (in fourths), alternately with cocoa mixture (in thirds), beginning and ending with flour mixture. Do not over beat.

Divide evenly into pans; smooth top. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until surface springs back when gently pressed with fingertip. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Carefully loosen sides with spatula; remove from pans; cool of racks.

FROSTING:

1 (6 oz.) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate pieces
1/2 c. light cream
1 c. butter
2 1/2 c. unsifted powdered sugar

In medium saucepan, combine chocolate pieces, cream, and butter; stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from heat. With whisk, blend in 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar. In bowl set over ice, beat until it holds shape.

FILLING:

1 c. heavy cream, chilled
1/4 c. unsifted powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Whip cream with sugar and vanilla; refrigerate.

TO ASSEMBLE CAKE: On plate, place a layer, top side down; spread with half of cream. Place second layer, top side down; spread with rest of cream. Place third layer, top side up.

TO FROST: With spatula, frost sides first, covering up whipped cream; use rest of frosting on top swirling decoratively. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. To cut, use a thin-edged sharp knife; slice with a sawing motion.

NOTE: To prevent whipped cream filling from melting, it works best for me to make the cake layers one day and wrap them and freeze them, and then assemble and frost the cake the next day or whenever I am going to need the cake.