Best Chocolate Cake

While on vacation in BC, we enjoyed a delicious dinner at some friends' place. Now Chris admitted to being a good cook, but a lousy baker, so I promised to post a recipe for her that she could not possibly mess up on. A trick for great cake, is to beat the sugar and butter like crazy! The more you incorporate those two ingredients together, the better your cake will turn out. And, like with everything else, having the right equipment to help makes it easier (ie a stand mixer). Makes great cupcakes too! (but not sure on the baking time for those)

Best Chocolate Cake 

3/4c butter
2c granulated sugar
2 eggs
1t vanilla extract
3/4c water
3/4c buttermilk (or sour milk see note) 
2c flour 
3/4c cocoa
1t baking soda
1/2t baking powder
1t salt
Cream butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add eggs, vanilla, water and buttermilk. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add to other mixture, mixing until smooth. Pour into a 9x13" pan and bake at 325 degrees for 45 min or until done.

Note: to make sour milk, measure slightly less than 1T vinegar or lemon juice in liquid measuring cup and add milk to make 3/4c. Let sit for a few minutes to allow to curdle, stir and add to recipe in place of buttermilk. The equivalent amount of yogurt would work too.