Cake Layers:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup water
1/2 cup shortening
4 tbsp. cocoa
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix flour and sugar; set aside. Combine butter, water, shortening and cocoa. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and add to flour/sugar mixture. Beat, add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and vanilla. Beat well.

Bake in oblong (13x9-inch) baking pan at 325°F until done.

Frosting:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
4 tbsp. cocoa
1/3 cup whole milk
1 (1 lb.) box confectioners' sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix butter, cocoa and milk. Mix these and bring to boil. Add confectioners' sugar, chopped pecans and vanilla. Mix well and frost cake in pan or remove from pan and frost.