Here's a recipe from Judy Youngdoff in Kansas City. She writes: "This has been a family favorite ever since it was printed in the Kansas City Star. It will be (was) the birthday cake when we celebrate my mom's 86th birthday on October 27. (2002)"

Luci Johnson's Wedding Cake

1 stick butter
2 c. sugar
2 c. flour, sifted
2 eggs
1 T vanilla extract
1/2 c. buttermilk
2 squares unsweetened chocolate
1 c. hot water
1 tsp. soda

1. Melt chocolate in double boiler.
2. Cream butter and sugar well: add eggs.
3. Add sifted flour and buttermilk alternately.
4. Add just 1/2 cup of the hot water to the melted chocolate. Stir mixture thoroughly.
5. Put the other half cup water in a small pan and bring to an absolute boil (THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.)
6. To this add the soda; the add it IMMEDIATELY to the chocolate mixture.
7. Pour the chocolate mixture into the batter, stir in the vanilla last.
8. Bake in a buttered loaf pan (Judy: I use an 8 1/2 inch angel food pan that was my grandmother's.) at 325 for 1 hour or until cake begins to pull away from sides of the pan.
9. Frost with chocolate glaze.

CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Chocolate Glaze
2 T. cocoa
1 T. vegetable oil
1 T. white corn syrup
2 T. plus 1 tsp water
1 c. powdered sugar

Stir first 4 ingredients together over low heat until smooth. Then stir in sugar until smooth and shiny. Pour over cake and let run down the sides.