1/2 c. Crisco or butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 c. plain flour
2 tbsp. cocoa
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. vinegar (reserve)
1 tsp. baking soda (reserve)
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
1 (2 oz.) bottle red food coloring

FROSTING:

1 c. milk
1/4 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 stick butter
1 c. Crisco

Sift together flour, cocoa and salt. Cream together Crisco and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Beat until fluffy. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk. Add vanilla and food coloring. Beat well. Fold in soda and vinegar, which have been mixed together. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes if two round pans have been used; 35 minutes for an oblong pan.

For frosting: Cook milk and flour until thick, let cool. Beat sugar, butter and Crisco until fluffy. Add to first mixture and beat until ready to spread. Cover with red coconut if desired. To color coconut, just add a couple of drops of red coloring to a bowl of coconut and stir until well coated.