Diet Chocolate Cake

Now, don't get too excited about the title of this recipe! It got the name through family legend. When Gary and I were first married, we made this cake and gobbled it up in about 2 days -- and each lost a couple of pounds. A couple of weeks later, I mixed up another cake, and again we each lost weight that week. This happened several times, and I can't figure out why it would happen. It's probably just coincidence, but it makes for a good joke around here (that probably nobody else finds funny).

This recipe is harder to pull together than most cakes. I don't normally like making cake. It's so much more trouble than pie or cookies. On top of that, cake is probably our least favorite dessert. (NOT that we dislike cake, please understand! It's just, y'know, in comparison to banana cream pie or cinnamon rolls or caramel-oatmeal cookies or ..... wait, ... I have to stop and wipe the drool off the keyboard....) Where was I? Oh yeah, this cake is more trouble than most. But oh yummy yummy, it's worth it!


Step 1 -- the fudge.
Combine in saucepan
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 egg
Heat to boil, stirring constantly.
Set aside to cool.

Step 2 -- the butter.
Cream
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter (or shortening)
till light.
Add 1 tsp vanilla.
Beat well.
Add 1 egg. Beat well.
Add another egg. Beat well.

Step 3 -- flour and milk.
While beating, sprinkle into butter:
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt.

Add
2/3 cup flour,
1/2 cup milk,
2/3 cup flour,
1/2 cup milk,
2/3 cup flour,
beating well after each addition.

Blend fudge into cake batter.
Bake in greased & floured pans
(either two 9"-rounds or one 13x9")
at 350°, about 25-30 minutes for rounds
or about 35-40 for the 13x9.