Good Old Chocolate Cake

Off to Grandma Lo's for dinner with all the family from far and wide. And I'm taking chocolate cake--our easy, good old family favorite. I usually have one waiting on he counter when Ani comes down to visit. It's just a cake mix, but don't we all know it's the frosting that makes it so very delicious!

GOOD OLD CHOCOLATE CAKE

dark chocolate cake mix

3 eggs

1/2 cup canola oil

water

1 cube butter/margarine

1/2 cup Hershey's dark chocolate unsweetened cocoa

8 oz. cream cheese

2 tsp. vanilla

1 pound box powdered sugar

1 cup toasted almonds

1/2 cup sugar

Make the cake in two 9" cake pans according to the directions on the box--with the eggs, oil and water. While it's cooling sugar the almonds by putting the almonds and 1/2 cup sugar in a small non-stick pan. Start on high heat, stirring ALL the time til the sugar starts to melt. Then turn it down to medium and keep stirring until the almonds are coated with the caramelized sugar. Turn them out of the pan onto a piece of foil to cool. Then make the frosting. Melt the butter in the microwave. Stir in the cocoa completely (this keeps the chocolate darker) Next add the cream cheese, vanilla and powdered sugar. Use the mixer on low to blend and then turn up higher once the sugar is incorporated. When the cake is cool, frost it and arrange the almonds on top.

To my taste, it's the perfect chocolate cake. Fragrant and tender, so rich and chocolaty. Love the nuts! (I buy the almonds already toasted in bags at Trader Joe's) Extra almonds are also great on salads or ice cream or just snack them down while you frost the cake--kind of a cake appetizer.