1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 ounces red food color
1 tsp. real vanilla
2 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
1 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 cup cake flour
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda
Cream 1/2 cup shortening, 1 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 tsp. real vanilla together.
ADD: 2 eggs, one at a time and beat.
Make a paste of 2 oz red food coloring and 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa. ADD the paste to the sugar mixture. Mix.
Sift 2 1/2 cup cake flour and 1 teaspoon salt together.
Mix the flour mixture into the sugar mixture, alternating with the buttermilk. Beginning and ending with the flour mixture..
Combine, 1 Tablespoon vinegar and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Add to the batter.
Bake in 2-9-inch round pans. 40 to 50 minutes or until done in a 350 degree oven. Split each layer when cool.
FROSTING
5 Tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon real vanilla
1 cup butter
Cook flour and milk until thickened. Let stand until almost cold. Cream sugar and butter and vanilla until fluffy, and add to flour and milk mixture and beat until fluffy. (Grandma always tinted the frosting pink.)