| 1 | Mix cocoa with boiling water, stirring with wire whip until smooth. |
| 2 | Cool in refrigerator while preparing other ingredients. |
| 3 | In large mixer bowl, beat butter with sugar, eggs, and vanilla on high speed 5 minutes. |
| 4 | Sift flour with baking soda, baking powder and salt. |
| 5 | On low speed, add dry ingredients alternately with cocoa and liquid, starting and ending with flour. |
| 6 | (do not overbeat). |
| 7 | Divide batter into 2 round pans (9 x 1 ?) lined with buttered waxed paper. |
| 8 | Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes or until cake tests dry with a toothpick. |
| 9 | Cool in pans for 10 minutes; remove cake and cool on racks. |
| 10 | Use 1 layer of cake for great strawberry chocolate shortcake dessert. |
| 11 | The second layer may be frozen for other great chocolate desserts- or the 2 layers may be frosted together. |
| 12 | For shortcake: whip cream with powdered sugar and vanilla. |
| 13 | Spread over top of 1 layer of cake. |
| 14 | Arrange fresh strawberries on top. |
| 15 | Melt chocolate and drizzle over berries. |
| 16 | Chill to firm chocolate. |
| 17 | Makes 8 servings. |
