1 c. boiling water
3 oz. unsweetened chocolate
8 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. granulated sugar
2 eggs, separated
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. sour cream
2 c. flour, sifted
1 tsp. baking powder
Chocolate Frosting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 10 inch tube pan. Pour boiling water over chocolate and butter, let stand until melted. Stir in vanilla, sugar and then whisk egg yolks one at a time and blend well. Mix baking soda and sour cream and add to mixture.

Sift flour and baking powder together and add to batter, mixing thoroughly. Beat egg whites until stiff, adding 1/4 of egg whites to batter. Scoop remaining egg whites on top of batter and gently fold together. Pour into pan, cook in middle of oven, 40 to 50 minutes or until edges have pulled away from sides of pan. Cool 10 minutes in pan, remove, cool completely then frost.

CHOCOLATE FROSTING:

2 tbsp. butter
3/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate bits
6 tbsp. heavy cream
1 1/4 c. confectioners' sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Place all ingredients in saucepan over low heat and whisk until smooth. Cool slightly, add more sugar if necessary.