1985 JEANE KIRKPATRICK 'S CHAMPION CHOCOLATE CAKE

3 squares unsweetened baking chocolate
1 cup hot water
1 teaspoon red coloring (optional)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened butter
2 1/2 cups cake flour, sift before measuring
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt the chocolate in the hot water. Cool, then add the red coloring, soda, and salt. Stir and set aside. Cream the sugar, eggs and butter. Add alternately in thirds the flour and the sour cream.

Add the chocolate mixture and the vanilla and beat on medium speed approximately two minutes. Bake in a 10 by 14 inch greased and floured pan about 40 minutes in a preheated 350-degree oven. Let cool, remove from pan and ice with fudge icing.