Menlove's Traditional Chocolate Birthday Cake

Unless we requested otherwise, this is the standard birthday cake in the Tammy Menlove kitchen. And there are no complaints here. This is the kind of cake that starts out good and gets even better after it sits on the counter overnight and is inadvertently consumed for post-birthday breakfast. It's delicious and fool proof.

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

½ cup cocoa

3 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 cup oil

1 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup hot water this may sound weird, but it's what makes this cake phenomenal.

Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, soda and salt in a medium bowl. In a large bowl (kitchenaid) bowl combine eggs, oil, buttermilk and vanilla. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Stir in hot water. Pour into a greased cake pan.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes

Allow to cool and then top with your favorite frosting.