EPIC Cake

I made a 14 layer cake last night. What did you do?

This cake is VERY good and surprisingly easy to make, although time consuming.. So put on your "What's cooking good lookin'" apron and make a cake.

Ingredients:

Cake Batter:

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups white sugar
• 6 eggs
• 3 cups milk
• 3 cups self-rising flour
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

"Frosting"

• 3 cups white sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 cups evaporated milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 4 or 5 - 8 inch round cake pans. It's really important that you don't half ass the greasing, you'll totally jack up your ability to have a pretty cake.
2. In a VERY large bowl, cream together the shortening, 1/2 cup butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. (I tried just a regular mixing bowl and it overflowed) Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour alternately with the 3 cups milk; beat well. Pour 3/4 cup of batter into each prepared pan, and spread evenly. It really seems like it's not enough in the pan, but trust me, it is. You will need to bake the layers in two or three batches.
   
3. Bake for 6 to 9 minutes in the preheated oven, just until the layers are dried out. Do not brown.You'll notice the cake is spongy looking and the edges will begin to shrink in from the sides. They aren't going to come out looking like regular sheet cake.
4. To make the frosting: *****VERY IMPORTANT YOU FOLLOW THIS TO A SCIENCE OR THE FROSTING WON'T SET**** In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine 3 cups sugar, 1 cup butter, cocoa, water and 2 cups evaporated milk. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil which means the entire top is boiling, cracking and moving liquid within the pot, stirring frequently, then boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and beat for two minutes with an electric mixer. Remove from heat and let cool for about 10minutes
   
5. Stack cake layers with icing in between, letting the icing run down the sides of the cake. Smooth the sides and top with the remaining icing.