1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. cocoa
1 c. water
2 c. all-purpose flour
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon (better if left out)
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease and flour 15x10 inch sheet cake pan; set aside. Combine butter, cocoa and water in saucepan. Bring to boil; remove from heat. Sift flour and sugar into large bowl. Add chocolate mixture and beat at medium speed until blended. Continue beating while adding buttermilk, eggs, soda, salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Pour into prepared pan and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. (Cake may not appear to be done, but it is.) Remove from oven; let cake remain in pan and frost while hot.

ICING:

1 lb. box powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 c. butter, melted
1/4 c. cocoa
6 tbsp. milk
1 c. chopped pecans
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine sugar, butter, cocoa and milk in a mixing bowl; mix well. Stir in vanilla and pecans. Spread on cake while hot. (I melt cocoa and butter on stove and combine the rest.) Delicious! Cool cake before cutting.