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

Cream shortening, sugar and add eggs. Make a paste of food coloring and cocoa. Add to cream mixture. Add buttermilk and sifted flour and salt alternately. Add vanilla. Mix soda and vinegar in separate bowl and let it foam. Add vinegar mixture to other ingredients, blending instead of beating.

Bake in 2 greased and floured round cake pans. When cool, cut cakes in half lengthwise to create 4 layers.

ICING:

3 tbsp. flour
1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Cook flour and milk until very thick, stirring constantly. Cool. Cream butter and sugar, then add vanilla. Mix until fluffy. Add to flour mixture when cooled and mix until well blended. (Should be like whipped cream.)