2 squares baking chocolate
1/3 c. shortening
1 c. milk
1 3/4 c. flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. baking soda

Combine chocolate and milk in top of double boiler and cook over rapidly boiling water 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Blend with egg beater. Cool. Sift flour once, measure, add salt, soda, sugar and sift together 3 times.

Cream shortening, add flour mixture alternately with chocolate mixture and stir until all of flour is dampened. Beat vigorously 4 minutes. Bake in 2 greased and floured 8-inch layer pans, in a moderate 375 degree oven for 30 minutes. Add cold milk with vanilla. (May substitute 1/4 cup cocoa for chocolate and sift with dry ingredients.)