Chocolate Sheet Cake

I should be finished with Memaw's cake recipes by next week. Then the last segment of the Just Plain Cooking cookbook begins--PIES. I have a dear friend in The Netherlands who enjoyed my birthday party when I made pies instead of cake. Actually I like pies better, too. Especially the savory ones, but Memaw did not include any of those. Maybe I will.

Now back to the cakes.

Chocolate Sheet Cake (Memaw's)

2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

2 sticks oleo

4 tablespoons cocoa

1 cup water

1/2 cup buttermilk ( put baking soda in)

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

Sift together sugar and flour. Set aside.

Mix oleo, cocoa, and water in a saucepan. Bring to a rapid boil.

Pour over flour and sugar mixture and stir until mixed.

Add buttermilk, eggs, cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix well.

Pour into a greased 11" x 16" pan that is at least 1/2 inch deep.

Bake 20 minutes at 400 degrees F.

Begin making icing about 5 minutes before cake is done.

Icing

1 stick margarine

4 tablespoons cocoa

6 tablespoons milk

1 box powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans

Melt margarine, cocoa, and milk and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add sugar, vanilla, and pecans. Beat well with a spoon. Spread on cake while hot. When icing begins to cool, cut into squares.