Schoolhouse Chocolate Cake

Clara has been at it again; there are two layers of a gorgeous-looking chocolate cake in the oven which will be cooled and frosted to a tee in a little bit. Fortunately for the family avoirdupois, most of the people here have metabolisms that operate faster than the speed of sound. In her honor, I submit the family recipe for dairy-free chocolate cake:

*Schoolhouse Chocolate Cake*

2 c. cake flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
2/3 c. cocoa
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 1/2 c. rice milk (with 2 T. cider vinegar stirred in)
1/2 c. shortening
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla

Beat all ingredients on low for 30 seconds. Beat on high for 2 minutes. Pour in greased, floured pans (two round layers, 13 x 9, or Bundt) and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes (longer for single-pan cakes).

To frost: soften 1/3 c. dairy-free margarine, sift in 2 c. powdered sugar and 1/3 c. cocoa. ådd 1 1/2 t. vanilla, and as much water (around 2 T.) as necessary to make a nice soft spreading consistency.

So easy a ten-year-old could do it!