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1
Turn the oven on to 350F.
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2
Make sure the rack is set in the middle.
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3
Use your fingers to grease the bottom and sides an 8-inch round cake pan with a little vegetable shortening.
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4
Sprinkle 1 tablespoon flour into the pan.
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5
Tilt the pan around, shaking it a little, until the bottom and sides are lightly covered with flour.
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6
Then turn the pan upside down over the sink or into the trash basket and tap the pan firmly so any extra flour falls out.
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7
Set the pan aside.
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8
Put the 5 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan on the stove and turn the heat to low.
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9
Stand right by the stove and keep an eye on the butter.
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10
As soon as it has melted, set the pan aside and let the butter cool a little.
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11
Put the 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large mixing bowl.
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12
Stir with a large spoon until the ingredients are well mixed.
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13
Pour the 1 tablespoon vinegar, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and 1 cup water into a small bowl and stir them until they are well mixed.
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14
Add the liquid mixture into the flour mixture, and then stir in the melted butter.
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15
Now roll up your sleeves and with a big spoon in one hand, holding onto the bowl firmly with your other, stir the batter fiercely for about a minute until it looks very thick, smooth, and creamy.
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16
Pour the batter into the cake pan, and use a rubber spatula to get it all out of the bowl.
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Then gently spread it evenly in the pan.
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18
Put the pan in the oven an set the timer for 25 minutes.
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19
When the timer bell goes off, use a pot holder to pull the cake out enough so you can test it for doneness by sticking a toothpick into the center.
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20
If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done.
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21
If the tooth pick has some sticky batter on it when you remove it, let the cake bake 5 to 10 minutes.
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22
This cake usually takes about 30 minutes to bake.
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23
Remove the cake from the oven with pot holders.
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24
Set it on a rack, and let it cool 10 minutes.
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25
Turn the cake upside down onto a large plate.
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26
If the cake doesnt come right out of the pan, loosen it by running a knife carefully around the sides, between the cake and the pan, and then carefully push a metal spatula under the bottom of the cake to loosen it.
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27
This cake, however, usually comes right out of the pan without coaxing.
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28
When cool, the cake can be dusted with confectioners sugar and served.
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29
For a special occasion, be grand and frost and decorate your cake.
