Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Nut Cake

Description
This recipe came from an estate sale. I obtained it when I purchased the family collection from the Omega Estate in Waxahachie, Texas in 1994.
 * Contributed by Catsrecipes Y-Group

Ingredients

 * 1 cup granulated sugar
 * 1¾ up cake flour
 * ¼ teaspoon salt
 * 1 teaspoon baking soda
 * 2 squares semisweet chocolate
 * 5 ounce bottle maraschino cherries sliced
 * ½ cup butter softened
 * 1 cup sour milk
 * 1 egg beaten
 * 1 teaspoon vanilla
 * ¼ cup pecans chopped

Frosting

 * 1½ cup granulated sugar
 * ⅓ cup water
 * 1 tablespoon white corn syrup
 * 2 unbeaten egg whites
 * 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

 * 1) Sift together sugar, flour, salt and soda.
 * 2) Melt chocolate in some of the maraschino juice.
 * 3) Add butter, milk, melted chocolate, egg and vanilla then mix thoroughly.
 * 4) Add cherries and nuts.
 * 5) Dust two cake pans with a mixture of flour and chocolate.
 * 6) Divide batter between the two pans and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.
 * 7) Fill the bottom of a double boiler with water and bring to a simmer.
 * 8) Combine sugar, water, corn syrup and egg whites in the top of the double boiler.
 * 9) Place the top portion of the double boiler over the bottom and beat the mixture with a rotary beater for 10 minutes or until peaks form.
 * 10) Remove double boiler from heat and blend in vanilla.
 * 11) Place one layer of the cooled cake onto a pedestal cake stand and cover with frosting.
 * 12) Place other layer on top and anchor with toothpicks.
 * 13) Ice it using all the frosting.