Granny always had a homemade treat waiting for us when we got off the school bus. This was one of those desserts. It took a whole gallon of milk to wash it down. Yum! I made it for my neighbor Michelle and now it’s one of her favorites because you don’t have to wait for it to cool off before adding the icing. It’s best served warm.
by Granny–Dolores Borel
Cake Ingredients
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 salt
1 stick butter
1/2 cup vegetable shortening — (Cricso)
1 1/2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Icing Ingredients
1 stick butter
1/3 cup milk
1 pound powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup pecans
1 1/2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
Method
Combine first five ingredients and set aside. Melt and bring to rapid boil butter, crisco, chocolate and water. Pour over dry ingredients. Add buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Pour into 11 x 16 sheet pan that has been greased and floured. Bake 400 20 minutes.
Icing: Melt cubes of chocolate in microwave. Boil butter and milk on the stove and add melted chocolate near the end. Add sugar, vanilla, and pecans. Pour over warm cake and eat warm.
Savoie Secrets: It's a Family Recipe 
When I first tried this cake, I was over at Mrs. Pat’s house. There was a big party going on and Mrs. Pat just pulled out this cake. She began to serve it and when i got mine it was still warm. I took my first bite and the cake melted in my mouth!
Now this is my favorite cake!!