Rich chocolate cake

Quick-mix cakes are always popular.Remember to have all the ingredients with an electric mixer on a low speed until combined;then increase the speed to medium and continue to beat until the mixture is smooth and changed to a paler colour.Keep scraping the mixture down from the side of the bowl for even mixing.This recipe require the aeration created by an electric mixer.

Ingredients:

Butter --------185 gms
Vanilla essence --------2 teaspoons
Castor sugar --------1 3/4cups
Eggs --------3
Self raising flour --------2 cups
cocoa --------2/3 cocoa
water ---------1 cup

CHOCOLATE ICING

Dark chocolate,chopped ----90gms
Butter -----30gms
Icing sugar -----1cup
Hot water -----2 tbs approx

Method:

Grease a deep 23cam round cake pan,Line base with paper;grease paper.

Combine butter,essence,sugar,eggs,sifted flour and cocoa and water in large
bowl,beat on low speed with electric mixer until ingredients are combined.
Increase speed to medium,beat for about 3 minutes or until mixture is smooth and
changed in colour.Spread into prepared pan.

Bake in moderate oven for about 1 1/2 hours.Stand 5 minutes before turning on to
wire rack to cool.Spread cold cake with icing.

Chocolate icing: Melt chocolate and butter in bowl over hot water,gradually stir in sifted
icing sugar,then stir in enough hot water to mix to a spreadable consistency.

Keeping time:3 days.