QUESTION: I would like to make a cake for my mother's birthday — the same cake that her mother used to make. The problem is that I do not have my grandmother's recipe. My mother always talks about it because it is a chocolate cake made with mayonnaise. Have you ever heard of this kind of cake, and if so, would you send me a recipe for it? Your friend,ANSWER: At first I didn't know if this was a serious request or a "let's make that crazy chef go a little more nuts" e-mail. Chocolate cake with mayonnaise? What's next — mustard cookies? Ketchup ice cream? Pickle frosting? But hey, wait a minute. After all, mayonnaise is concocted from two basic ingredients: eggs (which are obviously used in baking) and oil, which is used for baking much more than people realize — especially to keep things moist.Then I started talking to people about this request, and got the old, "What, you've never heard of that before?"Regardless of the issue, when you are hit with that infamous dig, you only have two options. First-lie. "Are you kidding me? My great grandfather came up with that. I was just seeing if you knew what it was." Second — "I must have skipped that day of school; I guess only the losers were present when that information was handed out."Either way, mayonnaise chocolate cake was news to me and sounded gross until I realized the ingredients in that particular condiment (we can forgo the pickles and mustard) would segue right into a baking recipe. The fact that I don't have a mayonnaise chocolate cake recipe is not a problem, because word spread that I needed one like fire ants at a 5-year-old's backyard birthday party. Suddenly I was swarmed with recipes.I believe that I picked two of the best, and I found it interesting that one called for ice water and the other boiling water! The frostings are very simple to make. Tell your mom happy birthday for me, and that next year you are going to surprise her with Thousand Island Dressing Brownies.

1 cup boiling water½ cup cocoa, firmly packed2¼ cups all-purpose flour1½ teaspoons baking soda1 teaspoon baking powder¼ teaspoon kosher salt¾ cup chopped walnuts1 cup mayonnaise1¼ cups sugar1 teaspoon vanilla extractGrease and flour two 8-inch cake pans.In a small bowl, pour the boiling water over the cocoa, and whisk until smooth. Set aside.Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Fold in the chopped walnuts and set aside.In a large bowl or an electric mixer, beat together the mayonnaise and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the vanilla and cocoa mixture, continue beating until very well incorporated. Mix in the flour mixture, mixing until the batter is well combined.Pour into prepared pans, and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for approximately 30 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 20 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

2 cups flour½ cup cocoa1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon baking powder¼ teaspoon kosher salt1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar¼ teaspoon nutmeg¼ teaspoon cinnamon¾ cup mayonnaise1 cup ice cold water (no cubes)Sift together in a large mixing bowl the flour, cocoa, soda, sugar, powder, kosher salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. To the dry ingredients add the cold water until well combined and then fold in the mayonnaise, but do not overbeat.Pour into a greased and floured 13- by 9- by 2-inch pan in a preheated 350 degree oven. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 20 minutes on a wire rack.

½ stick butter1 pound powdered sugar¼ teaspoon kosher salt½ cup cocoa2 to 3 tablespoons milk (See note)1 teaspoon vanillaIn an electric mixer cream butter, ½ the sugar, and kosher salt. Add cocoa and 1 tablespoon milk. Continue mixing.Add the rest of the sugar and 1 more tablespoon of milk and beat until well combined. Frost cake immediately.Note: You may need to add the other tablespoon of milk for the right consistency.

¼ cup butter½ cup light brown sugar2 to 3 tablespoons milk (See note)1¾ cups powdered sugarIn a saucepan over medium high heat, melt butter and stir in brown sugar. Cook and stir until bubbly. Remove from the heat and place into a mixing bowl. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of the milk.Gradually add confectioners' sugar beating constantly until frosting is of spreading consistency. Immediately frost cake.Note: You may need to add the other tablespoon of milk for the right consistency.