Recipes

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour 10 9-inch aluminum round pans.

Cream the sugar and butter. Add eggs one at a time, beat until smooth.

Sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Mix into egg mixture one cup at a time. With mixer running, slowly pour in the evaporated milk, then the vanilla and water. Mix just combined. Put three big spoonfuls of batter in each pan, tap on counter to spread evenly. Bake three layers at a time on the middle rack of the oven for about 5-8 minutes (watch them!).

The original recipe included a recipe for icing, but I found it to be too runny and it didn't look as pretty as Bakerella's suggestion of chocolate buttercream. I have learned in the past, just trust Bakerella!

Prepare your buttercream by creaming the butter and the shortening, then add vanilla and cocoa. Gradually add the sugar, one cup at a time, then slowly add the milk.

To assemble the cake, frost the top of each layer so the next will stick to it. When you have a serious tower of cakes, frost the top and sides, doing your best to keep the layes hidden under a thick coating of frosting. This way when it's cut into, it's a huge surprise to everyone who sees it!