1 1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. Crisco
1/4 c. butter
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
2 oz. food coloring
2 tbsp. cocoa
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 1/4 c. sifted cake flour
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbsp. vinegar
1 tsp. baking soda

Cream sugar, Crisco and butter. Add eggs and salt; cream. Add food coloring. Sift together cocoa, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and cake flour. Add sifted ingredients alternately with buttermilk and vanilla to mixture.

Dissolve 1 teaspoon baking soda in vinegar and stir in with spoon. Add to mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

RED VELVET CAKE ICING:

1 c. milk
1 c. white sugar
1/4 c. flour
2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. Crisco
Pinch of salt

Mix together milk and flour. Cook until thick in top part of double boiler. Let cool. Cream in mixer sugar and Crisco until fluffy. Add the milk and flour mixture and beat until stiff. Add vanilla and salt. Blend.