Recipes For The Weekend

This recipe is called "Chocolate Picnic Cake", but I don't think you need a picnic as an excuse to bake this wonderful cake:
(all recipes from www.recipe.com)

CHOCOLATE PICNIC CAKE
Recipe from Midwest Living

Use coffee instead of the water to give this cake a different flavor. Serve it warm for dessert with vanilla ice cream and drizzle with chocolate sauce.

Prep Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Servings: Makes 12 servings.
SEE MORE MIDWEST LIVING RECIPES
INGREDIENTS
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour1-1/2 cups sugar 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1-1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1-1/2 cups water or strong brewed coffee, cooled1/2 cup canola oil or cooking oil4-1/2 tsp. vinegar 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla Picnic Topping (recipe below) Vanilla ice cream Grandma Betty's Chocolate Sauce (recipe below)
DIRECTIONS
1 Grease and flour a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a large mixing bowl stir together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Beat mixture with a fork until smooth. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle with Picnic Topping.
2 Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool cake slightly in pan on a wire rack. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with Grandma Betty's Chocolate Sauce. Makes 12 servings.
3 Picnic Topping: In a bowl, combine 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces and 1/2 cup sugar. Sprinkle topping to cover cake batter.
4 Grandma Betty's Chocolate Sauce: In heavy small saucepan, combine 1-1/2 cups sugar, 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder and a dash of salt. Stir in 1/2 cup whipping cream and 1/4 cup milk. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly, then reduce heat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remover from heat. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Transfer to bowl; cover surface with plastic wrap. Cool to room temperature before using.