Chocolate Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup hot coffee
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Sift together dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add oil, coffee and milk; mix at medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla extract; beat 2 more minutes. (Batter will be thin.) Pour into two greased and floured 9-inch cake pans. Bake at 325 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool cakes 15 minutes before removing from pans. Cool on wire racks.

Favorite Icing:
1 cup milk
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine milk and flour in a saucepan; cook until thick. Cover and refrigerate. In a mixing bowl, beat butter, shortening, sugar and vanilla extract until creamy. Add chilled milk/flour mixture and beat for 10 minutes. Frost cooled cake.