My Mom's Chocolate Cake

I can't believe I'm sharing this family recipe. It's the signature Jansen Family Recipe and no family gathering is complete without it. I'm submitting it for a request for recipes and ideas for a sleep-over/birthday party event. It's from my Mom, it's old, I have no idea where it came from. No need to drag out the mix-master for this, just a bowl and a pot is all you need.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 24

Ingredients

• 2  cups sugar
• 2  cups flour
• 1⁄4 cup cocoa powder
• 1  cup water
• 1⁄2 lb butter
• 1⁄2 cup buttermilk
• 2  eggs, beaten
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon vanilla

• Frosting

• 1⁄4 cup cocoa powder
• 1⁄4 lb butter
• 6  teaspoons milk
• 1  lb confectioners' sugar
•  chopped  nuts (we like chopped pecans) (optional)

Directions

1. Combine sugar and flour in a large bowl.
2. Boil 1/4 C cocoa, water, 1/2 lb butter in a medium sized sauce pan.
3. Pour chocolate mixture over flour and sugar mixture and stir well.
4. Add buttermilk, beaten eggs soda and vanilla.
5. Pour into a jelly roll pan (which is, roughly, 11x15 and 1 inch deep), bake at 400° for 20 minutes.
6. While cake is baking, make frosting.
7. Combine frosting ingredients, except for confectioners sugar, in the same sauce pan used for chocolate mixture above (saves washing dishes).
8. Boil, then add confectioners sugar.
9. Pour over hot cake, sprinkle with nuts, and let set for an hour or two.
10. Serve and watch the smiles and requests for the recipe.