What weighs a pound and puts on pounds? Why a pound cake, of course! I found this recipe on The Little Red Hen's website. What caught my eye was the black cocoa powder that it called for...what?!? Black cocoa powder?!? I'd never heard of it...but she very kindly provided a link to King Arthur Flour where you can not only order Black Cocoa Powder but an amazing array of other goodies! 
On the package it says:
"For richer, darker color, use black cocoa in combination with Dutch-process cocoa in any recipe calling for Dutch-process cocoa. Or use it alone, but be aware: black cocoa will produce a very strong-flavored baked good."
It is much darker than, say, Hershey's cocoa powder or Dutch-process cocoa...when they say black, they mean black!
Three sticks of butter and five eggs...we're talking serious poundage! But it was worth every one that was surely added to my thighs...this cake is very dense and moist and it is extremely chocolately...and to think that The Little Red Hen says her family puts peanut butter on it or they smother it with vanilla yogurt! Shocking! It's perfect plain - with just a sprinkle of powdered sugar - but you do what you want...you're going to love this cake!
Chocolate Pound Cake - from The Little Red Hen at www.thelittleredhen.typepad.com
3 sticks butter
3 cups sugar
5 eggs
1/4 cup cocoa powder (Hershey's or Dutch process) and 1/4 cup black cocoa powder
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup milk
Grease and flour a Bundt pan. Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix dry ingredients together with a whisk. In a small bowl combine milk and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and milk mixture alternately to butter and egg mixture. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (Check after 70 minutes.) Remove from oven to a rack to cool for 10 minutes, then remove cake from pan, inverting on rack and then turning right side up.
The Little Red Hen suggests adding mashed banana, grated zucchini, chocolate chips or raspberry sauce on top. She only frosts her cake for birthdays.
Thanks Little Red Hen! This is a keeper!
"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow." Mark Twain
