1 cup Crisco
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. salt
1 oz. red food coloring
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 heaping tbsp. cocoa
1 tsp. ea. vanilla, baking soda and vinegar

ICING:

1 cup milk
1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup Crisco
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 can flaked coconut (optional)

Sift together three times, flour, cocoa and salt. Cream Crisco, sugar & food coloring and mix well. Add eggs one at a time. Beat well. Add milk and flour. Fold in vinegar, baking soda and vanilla.

Bake in 3 layers at 350°F until tester comes out clean. Cool. Use only Crisco. For icing: Cook milk, flour and salt together until thick. Cool completely. Cream Crisco and sugar and add cooked mixture. This will be very thin at first and takes a lot of beating. The icing can be colored any color. Spread on cake. Sprinkle with coconut if desired.