I grew up with pretty much this exact recipe, with these differences: cream shortening and sugar, add eggs and cocoa, beat well, sift dry ingredients together and add to already combined cocoa mix alternately with milk. Butter mold, fill two thirds, and steam two hours. Let cool about 10 min and turn out. Last couple of times i've made it i've thrown in some crushed red walnuts and a small amount of dried cranberries, and I also separated the eggs, beat the whites, and folded them in last. Serve with fresh whipped cream!