This one might kill you

Inspired by Tom Hanks' performance in "The Lady Killers", this recipe for Mississippi Mud cake is so sweet and decadent it's downright wicked. Hanks plays Professor G.H. Dorr, a silver-tongued, poetry reciting, southern professor who rents a room from a sassy, church-going old woman in a small Mississippi town. Posing as a band that plays nothing but good old church music, the professor and a group of fellow thieves use her root cellar to tunnel to and rob the local casino. But the devilish professor and his gang may have met their match in old Miss Marva Munson. I don't want to give away the ending, but let's just say the climax has a somewhat farcical, Agatha Christie feel that will make you burst out laughing, even while gasping in shock. Plus the movie has a cute cat named Pickles and an excellent soundtrack. Two things that make a movie superb. So sit back, cut yourself a piece of Mississippi Mud Cake, pop in the dvd, and enjoy some guilty pleasures. Don't worry; it probably won't kill you!

Mississippi Mud Cake
(Yield: Makes 15 servings)

1 cup butter, melted
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans, toasted
1 (10.5 oz) bag miniature marshmallows
Chocolate Frosting

1. Whisk together melted butter and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in flour and chipped pecans. Pour batter into a greased and floured 15-x10-inch jellyroll pan.
2. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven; top warm cake evenly with marshmallows. Return to oven and bake 5 minutes. Drizzle Chocolate frosting over warm cake. Cool Completely.

Note: 2 (19.5) packages brownie mix, prepared according to package directions, may be substituted for first 7 ingredients. Stir in chopped pecans. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Proceed with marshmallows and frosting as directed.

This recipe presented by Southern Living Magazine.