Serving Up {Cake}: Mom's Chocolate Cake

Happy Birthday is being sung at our house today.  Following the singing we are going to devour this cake!

For the record, I have a husband who LOVES chocolate!  In fact, by his definition, if it's not chocolate it's not really dessert.  As a result I have quite the collection of chocolate treats.  This chocolate cake is my mom's (famous) chocolate cake made from scratch - no cheater chocolate cakes on the hubbies big day.  Ditto on the frosting.

FYI - despite the photo of my cake being two round cakes stacked, this cake is normally made in a 13x9 pan.  I did the cake rounds for fun but it was a disaster (the cakes stuck and tore, etc.)  Stick to the recipe and the 13x9 pan when you make it.

MOM'S CHOCOLATE CAKE     
(recipe from Linda W.)
printable version

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
6 Tbs. cocoa
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. soda
2 cups water
2 Tbs. vinegar
3/4 cup oil
2 tsp. vanilla

Combine all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Combine the liquid ingredients separately and then add to the flour mixture.  Mix until completely combined.  Pour prepared batter into a greased and floured 13"x9" baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for approx. 50 minutes or until it tests done.
Cool completely before frosting it with Chocolate Fudge Frosting.

Chocolate Fudge Frosting
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch salt
3 2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup + 1 Tbs. milk

Combine the butter and cocoa in a saucepan.  Melt the butter, bringing it to a boil.  Removing from heat and add the vanilla and salt.  Add the powdered sugar and milk, alternating until all the sugar is used and the frosting is of desired consistency.