1 c. butter
2 1/2 c. flour
1 tbsp. cocoa
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 (1 oz.) bottle red food coloring
1 c. buttermilk
1 tbsp. vinegar

Cream butter, sugar and add eggs and beat until fluffy. Make paste of cocoa and vinegar, and add to butter mixture. Sift salt, soda, and flour together. Add to the mixture, alternately with buttermilk. Add vanilla and coloring. Bake in three 9 inch layers at 350 degrees until done. Grease and flour pans.

ICING:

1 c. butter (2 sticks)
1 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. chopped pecans
3 tbsp. flour
1 c. coconut
1 c. sugar

Cook milk and flour until thick, set aside to cool (2 hours at least). Mix sugar and butter when flour mixture is completely cold, add to butter and sugar, beating until it is consistency of whipped cream. Add coconut and chopped nuts. Start your icing first. It will cool while you're preparing the layers.