Instructions: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Thoroughly grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, salt and baking powder; add eggs, shortening, buttermilk (or sour milk - see note) and vanilla. Beat on low speed of mixer 1 minute, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake about 30-35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with One-Bowl Buttercream Frosting (recipe below). Immediately pipe or drizzle Spider Web (recipe below) in 4 or 5 circles on top of cake. Using knife or wooden pick, immediately draw 8 to 10 lines from center to edges of cake at regular intervals to form web. Garnish with "spider" made from candies.

Makes 12 servings.

NOTE: To sour milk, use 4-1/2 teaspoons white vinegar plus milk to equal 1-1/2 cups.

One-Bowl Buttercream Frosting

6 Tbsp. butter or margarine
4-6 tablespoons milk
2-2/3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup cocoa powder

In bowl, beat softened butter or margarine. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency. Stir in vanilla.

Makes about 2 cups frosting.

Spider Web

1/2 cup white candy chips
1/2 tsp. shortening

In small, heavy, seal-top plastic bag, place white chips and shortening (do not use butter, margarine, oil or spread). Microwave at high power 45 seconds. Squeeze gently. If necessary, microwave an additional 10-15 seconds; squeeze until chips are melted. Make small diagonal cut in 1 bottom corner of bag; squeeze mixture onto cake as directed above.

Makes 12 servings.

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