1/2 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 tbsp. cocoa
2 oz. red food coloring
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. cultured buttermilk
2 1/2 c. Swansdown sifted cake flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vinegar

Cream together shortening, sugar, and eggs. Make a paste with cocoa and food coloring and add to creamed mixture. Add salt, vanilla, and flour to creamed mixture and beat well. Mix soda and vinegar together and add with buttermilk to mixture; do not beat; fold in. Bake in two 9 inch layer pans for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

NOTE: Grease bottoms of pans and flour lightly.

ICING:

5 tbsp. flour
1 c. milk
1 c. granulated sugar
1 c. butter (1/2 butter, 1/2 butter)
1 tsp. vanilla

Cook flour and milk until thick, stirring constantly. Let cool completely. Cream together sugar, butter, and vanilla. Add flour and milk to creamed mixture and beat until consistency to spread on cake. When finished icing looks like whipped cream.