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Valentine Treats for Chocolate Lovers

We must remember to take care of the ones that we love. These quick and easy goodies will make a special Valentine surprise and our favorite Valentine is sure to love them.

CHOCOLATE SHEET CAKE

2 C sugar
2 C flour
l stick oleo
½ C Crisco
4 T Cocoa
1 C water
1 C buttermilk
1 t soda
2 eggs (slightly beaten)
1 t. Cinnamon

Mix sugar and flour well and set aside. Place Crisco, oleo, cocoa and water in a saucepan, bring to rapid boil. Add to sugar and flour...mix well. Measure buttermilk into a small bowl. Add soda and stir until dissolved. Add to mix. Add eggs and cinnamon. Bake in a greased and floured sheet can pan for 30-35 minutes @ 375 degrees. I prefer a pan slightly larger than a standard sheet cake pan so the cake will be just a little thinner.

If you want your frosting to soak into the cake spread it on while the cake is still very warm. I usually allow mine to cool a little and then spread the frosting. If it is completely cool the frosting will show the swirls left from spreading. If you put the frosting on while the cake is warm or hot it will not show the swirls, it will be smooth and thin.

1 stick margarine
4 T cocoa
7 T milk (not buttermilk)
1 t. vanilla
1 box powdered sugar (a box is 3 ¾’s cups)
1 C chopped nuts (optional)

Bring margarine, cocoa and milk to a rapid boil. Remove from heat and add powdered sugar, nuts and vanilla. Blend well and spread on the cake.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE COOKIES

As a young bride I learned to make these cookies. Yes, I did and still do, use powdered milk…old habits are difficult to change.

1¾ cup flour
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup powdered milk
½ t. soda
½ t. salt
½ cup butter
1 egg
2 squares chocolate
½ cup water
½ cup nuts (optional)

Mix flour, sugar, dry milk, soda and salt. Melt butter and chocolate squares in the water. Add the four mix to the liquid and mix. Stir in nuts and then drop by teaspoonsful on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 400 degrees.

Frosting

Melt 2 squares chocolate and 3 T. butter over low heat. Remove and add 3 T. water, ½ t. vanilla. Add 2 cups of powdered sugar. Frost cookies when they have cooled.