Tasty Tuesday

Dark Chocolate Cake
I made this for my dad's birthday this year, and it was so so so good. I am NOT a cake person at all, but we ate all of this cake.

2 C. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 C. Special Dark Chocolate Cocoa (you can use regular...but it's not as fantastic!)
1 C. oil
1 C. very hot water
1 C. milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all dry ingredients together very well. Stir in wet ingredients. Beat well. The batter will look REALLY runny, and that's good. Pour into two sprayed 9 inch pans. Bake at 325 for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool until cold.

Filling for the middle:
6 oz seedless strawberry jam
3 tsp. soft butter
3/4 C. whipped cream
1 1/2 C. confectioner's sugar

Beat together well, and spread on top of the first layer of cake. Lay the 2nd layer on top.

Icing:
8 oz of COLD right out of the fridge Cream Cheese
5 Tablespoons of soft butter
2 tsp. vanilla
2 C. confectioner's sugar

(If you want chocolate icing add 1/3 C. cocoa, and 2 extra tablespoons of soft butter)

Beat together until smooth and creamy. Spread all over cake. This is going to be the Happy Birthday Jesus cake this year!