Your hubby just called and said that some friends are on the way over for a visit.  Wouldn’t it be fun if you were just taking something yummy out of the oven when they arrived??!!  This is one of those amazing recipes that can be baked and frosted in 30 minutes or less … truly amazing.   Read through the recipe before you start, there are some oddities that can take you by surprise.  Do exactly as it says and you will have a perfectly spectacular evening visiting with your friends over coffee and dessert.

Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake

• 2 c. flour
• 2 c. sugar
• 2 cubes butter
• 4 Tbs cocoa powder
• 1 c. water
• 1/2 c. buttermilk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. soda
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Sift flour and sugar together in a large bowl.  (I never take the time to do this step.)  Combine butter, cocoa and water in saucepan and bring to a rapid boil.  Pour over flour and sugar mixture and stir well (by hand).  Add buttermilk, soda, eggs and vanilla.  Mix well (by hand).  Pour into greased sheet pan and bake approximately 15 minutes at 400 degrees.  (12 x 15 pan)

Icing

• 1 cube butter
• 4 Tbs cocoa powder
• 6 Tbs milk
• 1 box powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 c. chopped walnuts or pecans

Just before cake is done, melt butter, cocoa and milk together and bring to a boil.  Remove from heat and powdered sugar, vanilla and nuts.  Beat well (by hand) and spread on cake in pany while the cake is still very hot.

This cake freezes REALLY WELL either in serving sizes or as a whole cake.