1/2 c. Crisco
2 sticks butter
3 c. sugar
5 eggs
1/4 c. cocoa
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1 oz. red food color
3 c. plain flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 c. milk

Cream Crisco, butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add cocoa, vanilla, salt, and food color to creamed mixture and mix well. Sift together remaining dry ingredients and add alternately with milk. Mix well.

Bake in a greased and floured 10 inch tube pan at 300 degrees for 1 1/2 hours. Frost with Cream Cheese Icing.

CREAM CHEESE ICING:

1/2 box powdered sugar
1/2 stick butter (melted)
1 (4 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix until creamy and spread on cooled cake.