To sour the milk, put 2 tsp. White vinegar in a one cup measure, fill with milk to the 2/3 mark, and let stand 15 minutes. Sift the sugar together with the cocoa into a large mixing bowl. Add shortening and cream. Add the eggs and mix well. Sift the flour with the soda & salt. Starting with the dry, alternate with the sour milk in adding to the batter, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in the water, and then beat for a couple minutes. Batter will be thin. Bake in a greased & floured 9x13" pan in a preheated 350 degree oven until the top is firm when pressed with finger - about 35 minutes, more or less.

Cool the cake completely before frosting with Quick Fudge Frosting.

although not all the measurements were exactly half!