OOPPPS!

FYI - when you make the Blackout Cake, you CANNOT just put the batter into a 9x13 cake pan. I found out the hard way that it is too much batter for that little cake pan and I had a smokin' oven from the batter over flowing and dripping down onto the heating element. The name of that cake is appropriate because my whole house was "blacked out" from the smoke. Jubilee makes great chocolate cakes......

I had all the doors and windows open to get the smoke out and a starling flew in through the balcony french doors. That was quite the adventure getting it out! In the midst of all of this we had a rodeo in the pens. I happened to look out the window just as Ruby jumped over the water trough into the round pen with the horses. Copper and Cheyenne were immediately right on her tail. Rosie didn't want to get left out so she jumped over the trough and joined in. What a sight that was! I was laughing hysterically as the horses worked together to finally corner the poor cows.

It's always an adventure with the Christensons!

Next time, I think I will stick to this easy chocolate cake recipe:

Sift together 1 1/2C. unsweetened cocoa powder, 1T. baking soda, 1 1/2t. baking powder, 1 1/2t. salt and 3C. sugar in a bowl.

Next, beat in 3/4c. oil, 1 1/2c. buttermilk, 1 1/2t. vanilla, 3 eggs and 1 1/2c. hot water. Using a mixer set on low, beat until smooth - about 2 minutes. Pour the batter into two round cake pans that have been buttered and then dusted with cocoa powder. Bake at 350* for 45 -55 minutes.

Let cool for 20 minutes in the pan before inverting and cooling racks.

For a 9X13 pan, bake for 20 minutes.

Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

Sift together 4C. powder sugar, 1/2C. unsweetened cocoa powder and 1/4t. salt. With an electric mixer on medium high speed, beat 12 oz. cream cheese (room temperature) and 1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter (room temperature), until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the sugar mixture. Then mix in 18 oz. of melted bittersweet chocolate - which has been cooled slightly and 1 1/2C. sourcream.