texas sheet cake

from Culinary 101 by Kelsey Nixon

...the urge to finish off the rest of the Texas Sheet Cake from yesterdays lovely lunch with the Whitings & the missionaries. To prevent myself from indulging, I'll type the recipe below instead.

Texas Sheet Cake
Yield: 35 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup water
• 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

FROSTING

• 6 tablespoons milk
• 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10x15 inch pan.
2. Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Mix in the sour cream, then beat in the eggs. Set aside. In a saucepan, melt the butter, then stir in the water and 5 tablespoons cocoa. Bring mixture to a boil then remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly, then stir cocoa mixture into the dry ingredients, mixing until blended.
3. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
4. For the icing: In a large saucepan, combine the milk, 5 tablespoons cocoa and 1/2 cup butter. Bring to a bowl, then remove from heat. Stir in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla, mixing until blended. Spread frosting over warm cake & top with nuts if desired.