Chocolate Fudge Cake

I got this recipe as a wedding present. Weird, I know. But the woman who gave it to me is a legendary cook, and I was really excited to get the recipe. It (along with her banana bread recipe) was among my favorite wedding presents, and I'll never get rid of it or get tired of using it. Unlike some other presents we received. This is the fudgiest, most delicious chocolate cake I've ever tasted. And the frosting tastes like hot cocoa.

Here's a warning: all of the chocolate in the cake and frosting is cocoa powder that you temper with butter over the stove. IT WILL SCORCH. And it will scorch quickly. So be careful when you're heating it up. The recipe says to let it boil, but watch it the entire time it's on the stove, and as soon as you hear hints of bubbles at the bottom of the pan, take it off the stove. And the entire time it's on the stove, stir it. The whole time!! If you turn your back for a second, you can ruin it and have to start over. Believe me, I've done it! But when you get it right, it's amazing.

Ingredients

 Cake:

• 2 sticks butter (or 1 stick butter, 1 stick margarine) -- total 1 cup
• 4 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 cup water
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup buttermilk

Frosting:

• 1 stick butter 
• 6 tbsp evaporated milk
• 4 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 lb powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, flour, salt and baking soda. Set aside.
3. Over medium-low heat in a small saucepan, allow butter to melt, then add water and cocoa powder
4. Stir continuously until cocoa is well blended and mixture begins to boil
5. Pour mixture over flour mixture and blend well
6. Add eggs, buttermilk and vanilla, mix well.
7. Grease and flour a 9x13 pan, and pour in batter
8. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. For frosting: melt butter in saucepan at medium-low, just as before.
10. Add evaporated milk and cocoa powder and mix well. Stir continuously until bubbling starts
11. Pour chocolate mixture over powdered sugar, mix well.
12. Add vanilla and stir until well mixed. Spread evenly over cake once it is cooled.