Sorry, I couldn't resist the opportunity to make fun of Bill O'Really.

Ahhh, Chocolate. It's alive, for sure. Right up there with all that glitters, this one ranks high among all that melts. Ooey, gooey, drizzling chocolate, it is guaranteed to make ya "slap yur Daddy!"

Many wonderful food times created family nicknames for the dish. This cake was soon called "Slap-your-daddy-cake." As weekends approached, the kids knew that some kind of special dessert was going to hit the table. Once eaten, this cake became a constant request. I limited it only in the interest of my waistline.

How did it get it's name? Therein lies the story. Lynn was a thief in the night husband. As a cop, coming home from work at 3 or 4 in the morning for many years was the norm. It caused him to get his days and nights all mixed up. An incurable insomniac, I'm just getting solid zz's at 2:00a.m and if I'm awakend at 3 or 4 a.m., I can get just a tiny bit irritable. I'm a patient woman, really.

One night, I had made this delicious gooey chocolate cake for the kids, and when Lynn came home from work at 4 in the morning, he was, of course, hungry. Not so much a chocolate lover, now, he was a FIEND about it then.

Hearing noises, I stumbled sleepily into the kitchen, trying to work up a good mad that he had awakened me. He was deeply engrossed in his tasks of eating the cake one fingerful at a time. When I cleared my throat, he snapped around, his fingers now stuck in his mouth. Playfully, I popped his cheek lightly and said "Put that back!"

Sucking the goo off his fingers, he said "I don't think I can."

The next morning, at the breakfast table, he told all the kids I had slapped him for sneaking bites of the cake. Ben, one of our new young foster boys, turned to me with big eyes and said "You slapped your daddy??" And, there the name of the cake was born. My reputation as a normal nice mother-of-the-house was also forever ruined. We were constantly explaining the name of the cake to every new person who ate it.

I can't guarantee the same results in your family, but keep the spoons and forks handy.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tbls baking cocoa
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tbls vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 baking cocoa
• 1 1/2 cups hot water

Procedure:

• Spray the inside of 3 qt slow cooker with butter flavored cooking spray
• Mix flour, sugar, the 2tbls cocoa, the baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Stir in milk, oil and vanilla until smooth. Stir in nuts. (optional) Spread batter evenly in bottom of cooker.
• Mix brown sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa in small bowl. Stir in hot water until smooth. Pour evenly over batter in cooker.
• Cover and cook on high heat setting 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. (Do not lift lid during cooking. Before placing lid on cooker, place 6 or 8 dry paper towels over the bowl of the cooker, then place the lid on top of the towels to absorb cooking steam.)
• When done, turn off cooker. Let cake stand uncovered 30 to 40 minutes to cool slightly before serving.

Spoon warm cake into dessert dishes, and then spoon your favorite hot fudge sauce over top. Add your favorite ice cream, such as vanilla bean or even frozen yogurt.

Hide the cake from husbands who eat with their fingers, but don't slap your daddy. The name will stick to you forever!