3 c  Sifted flour

  1 1/2 c  Sugar

    1/3 c  Cocoa

  2 1/4 ts Baking powder

  1 1/4 ts Baking soda

  1 1/2 c  Mayonnaise

  1 1/2 c  Water

  1 1/2 ts Vanilla

-----------------------------CHOCOLATE FROSTING-----------------------------
      3 tb Butter or margarine

      2 oz Semisweet chocolate

      2 c  Powdered sugar

    1/8 ts Salt

      2 tb Milk (or double this amt.)

           - hot
    1/2 ts Vanilla

           Chopped nuts or nut halves
           - (optional)
  Resift flour with sugar, cocoa, baking powder and soda into bowl. Gradually
  stir in mayonnaise. Stir in water and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Fill 2 dozen
  greased or paper-lined muffin pans 1/2 full with batter. Bake at 350F 25 to
  30 minutes. Cool in pans 5 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on rack.

  Meanwhile, to make frosting, melt butter and chocolate in top of double
  boiler over hot water. Sift powdered sugar with salt. Add chocolate mixture
  and blend. Beat in enough milk to make spreadable. Beat in 1/2 teaspoon
  vanilla. Use to frost cupcakes. Garnish tops with nuts, if desired.