2 Cups Sugar 2 Eggs
1 3/4 Cups Flour 1 Cup Buttermilk or Milk plus 1 Tbsp. Vinegar
3/4 Cup Cocoa 1 Cup Strong black coffee or boiling water
2 tsp. Baking soda 1/2 Cup Vegetable oil
1 tsp. Baking powder 1 tsp. Vanilla
1 tsp. Salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9" pans or a 9 x 13 pan. In large bowl, stir together dry ingredients. Add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil and vanilla. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes (batter will be thin). Pour batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes for 9" pans and 35 to 40 minutes for 9 x 13 pan, or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes, remove from pans to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost as desired.
Buttercream Decorating Icing
1/2 Cup Crisco
1/3 Cup Butter, room temperature
1 pound Powdered sugar (4 Cups)
2 Tbsp. Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla
Cream shortening and butter. Add sugar, milk and vanilla. Blend on medium speed until all is creamy and blended. Decorate cake as desired.
Banana Streusel Muffins
1 1/2 Cups Flour 1 Egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp. Baking soda 1/3 Cup Butter, melted
1 tsp. Baking powder 1/3 Cup Packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. Salt 2 Tbsp. Flour
3 Bananas, mashed 1/8 Tsp. Cinnamon
3/4 Cup Sugar 1 Tbsp. Butter
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease 12 muffin cups. In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, until toothpick inserted into center of muffin comes out clean. Makes 12 muffins.
Homemade Chocolate Pudding
1 Cup Sugar 4 Cups Milk
1/2 Cup Cocoa 2 Tbsp. Butter or margarine
1/4 Cup Cornstarch 2 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 tsp. Salt
In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt. Gradually add milk. Bring to a rolling boil over medium heat; boil and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Spoon into individual serving dishes. Chill until serving. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
