Grandpa Thompson's Texas Sheet Cake

In celebrating Memorial Day Weekend, our cul-de-sac is getting together for a block party tonight.  To make things simple, one of the neighbors ordered a bunch of pizza's and then everyone is bringing a few items to share.   Besides making my homemade Mac and Cheese, which I'll feature later... I'm making my Grandfather's Texas Sheet Cake.

I have had this recipe in 1982 and you can tell how worn and well-used it is by the condition of the recipe card.  My grandfather, Dale Thompson Sr., was a well known baker and his nick name was Pie Baker.  He'd get up at 3:30 a.m. when we'd visit and make all sorts of delicious recipes from oven baked Quail, homemade biscuits, pies and this wonderful sheet cake.   All the cousins would devour it in a day.

My Grandfather was in the Navy and served during WW II.   He was a business man who owned his own Plumbing Company, Thompson Plumbing.   My grandparents bought their dream home in 1955 in Lawton, Oklahoma and my darling grandmother, Virginia, still lives {yes, in the same house}.   It's been 3 years since we last visited, but the house looked and smelled the same as I remember when I was younger.

This is a tried and true recipe that you cannot beat.   Enjoy it as much as I enjoy making it, in honor of my Grandpa.

Grandpa Thompson's Texas Sheet Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 C butter
• 4 T cocoa powder
• 1 C water
• 2 t cinnamon
• 1 t chili powder
• 1 t soda
• 1 t salt
• 2 C sugar
• 2 1/2 C flour
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 1 C sour cream
• 1 t vanilla

Directions:   Preheat oven to 375 degrees.   In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, cocoa and water and bring to a boil.  In a separate bowl, mix together the cinnamon, chili powder, soda, salt, sugar and flour.   Add the butter mixture, stirring well, then add the eggs, sour cream and vanilla.  Mix well and pour into a greased and floured sheet pan.   Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

Icing Ingredients:

• 1/2 C butter
• 4 T cocoa
• 6 T half and half
• 1 T vanilla
• 1 lb box confectioners sugar
• 1 C chopped Texas pecans

Combine butter, cocoa, half and half and vanilla in a saucepan, and heat until butter is melted.   Add confectioners sugar and chopped pecans. Mix well and spread over cooled cake.   Cut into individual servings and place on a large platter.