April Bakin'

It's April 3rd, and I only have four more weeks of school.  I have about a million projects due in this short time span.  I really should be working on them, but instead, I am baking a cake this afternoon and screwing around on the internet.  I have an excuse for baking.  My mil's birthday was yesterday, and we're having her and fil over for dinner.  So I have to bake a cake.  I have to say I am a rock star cook today - the cake is aready done and setting up in the fridge.

Happy birthday to Brian April 1st and to Casey April 2nd. 
In honor of birthdays and the cakes they inspire, I am including my favorite chocolate cake 
recipe today.  I topped this with marshmallow fluff and chocolate glaze today, but this cake holds up well to a variety of frostings.  I also love to make this as a "crazy ho cake," topping it with white filling and chocolate glaze.(ho ho filling/topping)  

Crazy Cake

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
  
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 t. soda
• 1 t. salt
• 1/3 cup cocoa (dutch processed if you can find it)
• 3/4 cup oil (I use canola.  Vegetable would also work well)
• 1 t. vanilla extract
• 2 cups water
• 2 T white vinegar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray/grease & flour 9x13 pan (or 2 rounds if you are getting fancy)
   
3. In a large bowl, mix all dry ingredients well.
4. Make a well in the center and add wet ingredients, adding vinegar last.
5. Mix well and immediately spread batter into pan.
6. Bake 35 - 40 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
7. If topping with marshmallow fluff, top while still hot.  For all other toppings, allow cake to cool first.  A simple powder sugar dusting is also lovely on this cake.