chocolate cake

It was my sister-in-law's birthday this past Sunday and I made this cake for her.  Sorry there are no pictures, but this is a good and pretty fool-proof recipe.  Honestly, one of the moister cakes that I have ever had.  It's good and easy so if you need to make a cake, give it a try.

What you'll need---
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract (optional)
2 cups cake flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup hot water

What you'll do---
Step 1: Beat sugar and butter at medium speed until creamy and fluffy (about 5 minutes).
Step 2: Add eggs, one at a time, beating until yellow disappears after each addition.
Step 3: Beat in vanilla and almond extracts.
Step 4: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
Step 5: Add to butter mixture alternately with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour.  Beat at medium-low speed just until blended after each addition.
Step 6: Beat in water until the batter is just smooth.
Step 7: Pour into prepared pans (I recommend using shortening and flour).
Step 8: Bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes if using 8" pans and 30-40 minutes for 9" pans.  Check early and remove promptly when done.
Step 9: Cool in the pans for at least 10 minutes and then remove from pans to completely cool.
Step 10: Frost with your frosting of choice and enjoy!

***Just a Note---To make a vanilla cake batter, use 3 cups of cake flour and ignore the cocoa powder as well as the 1/3 cup hot water.