1
["CAKE: Melt the chocolate with 1/3 cup water; stir until smooth.", "Remove pan from heat; let cool until lukewarm.", "Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350*F.", "Grease an 8 1/4x4 1/2"" loaf pan; line the bottom with waxed paper.", "Put the sugar, butter, salt, baking soda, and vanilla in a medium bowl.", "Beat with an electric mixer on high speed until well blended.", "(The mixture WON'T be creamy.) Add 1 egg; beat until creamy, pale, and fluffy.", "Add the other egg.", "Reduce mixer speed to medium and beat in 1/2 the flour, then 1/2 the milk.", "Beat in the remaining flour and milk, then the chocolate, until blended.", "Scrape batter into the prepared pan.", "Bake for 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.", "Cool the cake in the pan for 5 minutes.", "Loosen edges from sides of pan; invert onto a wire rack and peel off the waxed paper.", "Turn right side up and cool completely.", "MAKE THE FROSTING: Melt the chocolate with the brown sugar and heavy cream in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring often, until smooth.", "Remove pan from heat; add the butter, vanilla, and salt and stir until the butter has melted.", "With an electric mixer on low speed, beat in 1 cup of the powdered sugar.", "Increase the speed to high and beat for 1-2 minutes, or until light and fluffy.", "Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in the remaining powdered sugar.", "Increase speed to medium and beat the frosting for 1 minute longer.", "ASSEMBLE THE CAKE: Cut the cake in 2 layers.", "Spread 1/2 the frosting on the bottom layer, replace the top, and spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides.", "Serve as is, or with a scoop of ice cream and a generous portion of fudge sauce.", "MAKE THE FUDGE SAUCE: (OPTIONAL).", "Bring the evaporated milk and sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring often to dissolve the sugar.", "Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.", "Remove saucepan from heat.", "Add the chocolate, vanilla, and salt and let stand for 5 minutes until the chocolate melts.", "Beat with an electric mixer on high speed (be careful--the chocolate will spatter at first) until smooth and thick, about 3 minutes.", "Serve warm."]
