Crazy Chocolate Cake

A childhood favorite passed on from my grandmother.

3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup oil
2 cups warm water

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13" pan.

In a bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients. Pour into 9x13" pan. Make three wells in the mixture. In the first well put the vinegar, in the second well, the vanilla, in the third well, the oil. Pour the warm water over this and mix together with a fork just until combined. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

Frosting Option 1

2 sticks of softened butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3-3/4 cup milk

Cream the butter and vanilla (beat until fluffy) with a hand mixer. Adding one cup at a time, beat in the powdered sugar and cocoa. Stir in enough milk to make the frosting the right consistency, spread over cake.

Frosting Option 2

Sift together a couple cups of powdered sugar and 1/3 cup cocoa (or, to taste). Whisk in enough milk (tablespoon by tablespoon) to make a creamy frosting. Spread over cooled cake.