Classically Chocolate Cake for Daniel

.  Unlike my regular posts, which I try to keep upbeat, it is with a saddened heart I write this.

If you've stopped by LSM occasionally, you will know that I participate in a monthly group called the Secret Recipe Club (SRC).  Well a week or so back, the members received an e-mail from one of the SRC leaders explaining to us that Daniel, from The Haggis and the Herring, had unexpectedly passed away, leaving behind his wife, two sons, and soon to be third child.  Further on in the e-mail, SRC members were informed that as a tribute to Daniel, we were all welcome to choose a recipe from Daniel's blog and create a post to air on October 1.  So here we are.

I browsed through the numerous recipes from The Haggis and the Herring and decided upon this lovely chocolate cake, which Daniel's son and wife prepared for his birthday back in 2009.  Nevertheless that this classic, dense, rich, and moist chocolate cake truly is splendid, I'm fairly certain this recipe held a special place in Daniel's heart because his family made it just for him on his special day.  So making this cake seemed fitting.

Obviously I did not know Daniel personally, and in all honesty, I had never visited his blog before this.  But as is probably the case with many of the other SRC members, that tid bit is irrelevant.  Instead, SRC members are illustrating the wonders of the blogging world in that regardless of who you are, we are all supporters of one another.  Though many of us most likely did not know Daniel and his family, we are here now to send our thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathy to those he left behind.

Many of us can not even begin to imagine such a painful time, but then it's times like these when we remember what matters most.  Now that may be different from person to person, but the moral of the story remains universal.  

Take a breathe, take time for those you care for most, and don't ever let them go without them knowing how much you love them.  Sadly, you may not get a second chance.

In his post for this chocolate cake recipe, Daniel expressed his opinion rather simply:

"Jacob and Meredith made me the best birthday cake ever."

So I hope you enjoy this cake as much as Daniel did .

My Notes:

• Since this is a truly classic chocolate cake, you can let your imagination run wild.  Next time around I may try adding in mini chocolate chips to the cake batter and/or frosting, or you can try some nuts, fruit, or different types of chocolate.  A milk chocolate frosting sounds deeelicious, too!

From The Haggis and the Herring

Ingredients:

Cake:

3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1-3/4 c. all purpose flour

2 c. sugar

1-1/2 tsp. baking powder

1-1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 c. vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1 c. milk

1 c. boiling water

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Rich Chocolate Frosting:

1 c. heavy whipping cream

12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F.  Grease 2 9x9-inch pans; set aside.
2. Combine cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl.  Add vegetable oil and beat to combine.  Add eggs, one at a time, until combined.  Add vanilla extract and milk and beat on medium speed until batter is smooth.
3. With mixer on low speed, add boiling water and beat until combined.  Pour half of batter into each prepared pan.  Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean.  Cool cake completely before icing.
4. For frosting, in a medium saucepan, bring heavy whipping cream just to a boil over medium heat.  Remove from heat and add chocolate chips.  Without stirring, let sit 5 minutes.  Stir until smooth and let cool 15 minutes.
5. Place one piece of cake serving platter.  Spread half of frosting onto cake, letting some drip down the sides.  Place second cake on top and spread remaining frosting, also letting some drip down the sides.  Cut and serve.

Yield: 12 servings