Need help with Alissa's chocolate cake

[English Tracy]

I have made this cake 2 or 3 times before and it has always tasted great - especially the frosting.

However, where it says "2 cups of figs, soaked for at least 2 hours", does that mean 2 cups BEFORE OR AFTER soaking?

I've always gone with 'before' and obviously they swell up to more than 2 cups when they have been soaked. I then use 2 cups of walnuts as per the recipe. The cake is quite moist but I'm assuming it is supposed to be?

Thanks.

Tracy

[Sheryl]

Usually what's after the comma is after measuring, like 2 tomatoes, chopped or 2 cups flour, sifted. I would read that as measure out two cupes dried figs, then soak for 2 hours. No one would write a recipe where you had to soak then measure, because what would you do with the extra left over?

Any recipe book guide advises to write like this. And Alissa seems to have followed these principles well.

Cheers,
Sheryl