Chocolate cake with fudge frosting 'rocks'

When I was going through my old recipe box one day, I came across my sister Pam's chocolate cake recipe.

Whenever we visited her in Hawley, she always had a fresh chocolate cake on the counter made with cinnamon and topped with a fudgy frosting.

It sure made me miss her as now she lives in Seattle and I don't get to see her much. Her chocolate cake, as the kids say, "rocks."

Pam's Cinnamon Chocolate Cake

2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup Crisco

1/2 cup margarine

1 cup water

4 tablespoons cocoa

1/2 cup milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine sugar, flour and cinnamon in a bowl. Set aside. Bring Crisco, margarine, water and cocoa to a boil. Pour over the flour, sugar and cinnamon mixture. Mix in the milk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla. Bake in a greased, 9x13-inch pan 30-35 minutes or until done.

Pam's Fudge Frosting

1 1/2 cups sugar

6 tablespoons milk

6 tablespoons margarine

6-ounce bag real chocolate chips

Boil first three ingredients slowly for 1 1/2 minutes. Add 6-ounce bag real chocolate chips. When chips are melted, spread frosting over cake.

Chicken Fried Steak

2 pounds round steak

1/4 cup milk

2 beaten eggs

Cracker crumbs

Cut steak in serving pieces and pound it thoroughly. Dip steak into egg mixed with milk, then into the cracker crumbs. Brown on both sides in hot oil; season with salt and pepper. Bake in casserole in oven for about an hour at 325 degrees.

Gary's Cottage

Fried Potatoes

4 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup onion, chopped

3 cups cubed potatoes, cooked with skins on

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Heat butter in large cast-iron skillet if you have one. Otherwise, any large frying pan will do. Saut onions until tender and transparent. Add cooled, peeled and cubed potatoes. Fry until golden brown on one side; carefully turn and brown on second side. Season with salt and pepper.

GARY'S TIP: Frozen fish thawed in milk will give fish a fresh-caught flavor.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Kind words are like honey -- enjoyable and healthful.