Great Chocolate Cake (and Strawberry Shortcake

c Heavy whipping cream 2 tb Powdered sugar 1/2 ts Vanilla Strawberries for garnish 2 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mix cocoa with boiling water, stirring with wire whip until smooth. Cool in refrigerator while preparing other ingredients. In large mixer bowl, beat butter with sugar, eggs, and vanilla on high speed 5 minutes. Sift flour with baking soda, baking powder and salt. On low speed, add dry ingredients alternately with cocoa and liquid, starting and ending with flour. (Do not overbeat.) Divide batter into 2 round pans (9 x 1 1/2′) lined with buttered waxed paper. Bake at 350~ for 30-35 minutes or until cake tests dry with a toothpick. Cool in pans for 10 minutes; remove cake and cool on racks. Use 1 layer of cake for Great Strawberry Chocolate Shortcake dessert. The second layer may be frozen for other great chocolate desserts- or the 2 layers may be frosted together. For shortcake: Whip cream with powdered sugar and vanilla. Spread over top of 1 layer of cake. Arrange fresh strawberries on top. Melt chocolate and drizzle over berries. Chill to firm chocolate. Makes 8 servings. Archive January 2010 December 2009 July 2009 June 2009 April 2009 March 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008