Mom's Red Velvet Birthday Cake

Make a paste of:

2 oz red food coloring (2 bottles)

3 tbsp cocoa

1/2 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 cup buttermilk

2 1/4 cups cake or AP flour, well-sifted

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp white vinegar

1 tsp baking soda

Cream together shortening and sugar, add in eggs and coloring paste. Beat until fluffy (~10 min); add buttermilk and vanilla slowly, then gradually add dry ingredients. Add vinegar and baking soda last and fold in lightly. Pour into 9x13 cake pan, or two round pans.

Bake at 325 for ~30 min

Icing: double mixture if icing a round layer cake

1 stick butter

1/2 cup shortening

1 1/4 cup sugar (superfine white or powdered)

1 tsp vanilla

2 tbsp half and half, cream, or milk

Cream together until well blended and fluffy.

alternately can use a cream cheese icing