CAKE
1/2 cup (4 oz.) unsalted butter - room temperature
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs - room temperature
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 1/2 cups cake flour

1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 tsp. to 1 teaspoon red food coloring
1 tablespoon vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 F. Generously butter a 9 by 13 inch baking pan or two 8 inch round pans.

Cream the butter with the sugar until well blended and fluffy. Stir in eggs and vanilla, blending on medium speed until eggs are well incorporated - 3 to 4 minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk together cocoa, flour and salt. In a two cup measuring cup (or similar) stir together buttermilk, soda, red food coloring and vinegar. Stir both dry and wet ingredients into the creamed mixture, mixing on low speed, and scraping the bowl frequently to ensure the batter is properly blended. Mix well - 3 to 4 four minutes.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until cake tests done - 35 to 40 minutes. Cool well, then remove from pan. Freeze about fifteen minutes or refrigerate a half hour or so before icing.

1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate - coarsely chopped
3/4 cup sour cream
1 3/4 cups confectioner's sugar - sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup unsalted butter - room temperature

Melt chocolate over simmering water or in microwave (about 3 minutes, medium high). Cool. Stir sour cream and confectioner's sugar into melted, cooled chocolate and blend well. Chill about one hour, until quite firm.

Once firm, whip the chocolate mixture in mixer using a whisk attachment or paddle. Throw in chunks of butter and whisk on high speed until mixture lightens and becomes fluffy. Makes about 2 -2 1/2 cups of frosting.

Cut cake in two, horizontally to make two layers. Frost bottom layer generously. Top with remaining cake half.Frost top and sides. Garnish with toasted walnuts halves if desired. Frost top in old-fashioned swirls. To serve, make an imaginary line horizontally through cake. Cut pieces in squares, cutting in from sides towards middle (towards imaginary line).

Serves 12-14.