Alaskan Sourdough Chocolate Cake

This is the way most cakes were baked in Alaska in the early days before baking powder became more common.

Ingredients

• 1 cup thick sourdough starter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

Instructions

1. Prepare a cup of thick sourdough starter the night before. Let sit in a warm spot overnight.
2. Cream sugar and shortening until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
4. Stir in sourdough starter, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon and melted chocolate. Beat with rotary beater 2 minutes.
5. Blend salt and baking soda together until smooth. Sprinkle over batter and fold in gently.
6. Fold in flour until batter is smooth.
7. Pour into 2 (8- or 9-inch) greased and floured pans.
8. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes. When done, cake will spring back when pressed lightly with fingers and will shrink slightly from sides of pan.
9. Cool and frost with your favorite frosting.