CHOCOLATE PICNIC CAKE This cake is a crowd pleaser. Chocolate - and lots of it! 1 cup butter or margarine 1/4 cup baking cocoa 1 cup water 1/2 cup buttermilk 2 cups sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs Chocolate glaze (recipe follows) Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour jelly roll pan, 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1 inch. Heat butter, cocoa and water in 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, just until butter melts and mixture begins to boil. Cool about 10 minutes.

Stir in buttermilk; stir in sugar. Add flour, baking soda, salt, vanilla and eggs; stir vigorously until ingredients are blended. Pour into pan.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Spread with Chocolate Glaze.

Makes 24 servings.

CHOCOLATE GLAZE

1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1/3 cup milk
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat butter, cocoa and milk to boiling in 2-quart saucepan, stirring frequently; remove from heat. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla with spoon until smooth.

1 Serving: Calories: 290 (Cal. from fat: 110), Fat: 12g (Saturated: 8g), Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 240mg, Carbohydrate: 45g, Protein: 2g.

[Gold Medal, Desserts for Spring]