Recipes

[x Hedge]

1 c. sugar

3 T. cocoa

1/4 c. shortening

1/3 c. milk

Combine in saucepan and mix well.

Stir continuously over heat until it comes to a rolling boil & allow to boil 1 minute.

Set aside and allow to fully cool.

The final step on my mother's recipe card is

 "Beat until ready to spread. Might take about 1/2 hour".

I'm not sure how to interpret that.

I usually eat the cake without frosting.

[ECBG]

It appears you're making something similar to caramel frosting.  It takes air to change to the proper consistency.  You might understand by watching homemade caramel icing being made on youtube.

[debcakes]

My grandmother made a frosting recipe very similar to that, but with butter. 

She put it on a yellow cake and called it chocolate cake. I did not like the cake but loved the frosting and they would not let me eat just the frosting. Fortunately, my dad did not like the frosting.