-----------------------------------BATTER---------------------------------- half c Shortening; Crisco 1.5 c Sugar, granulated 2 Eggs 1 c Buttermilk 2.25 c Flour, cake; sifted 3 times 1 ts Salt 1 ts Vanilla 1 tb Vinegar, white 1 ts Baking soda -----------------------------------ICING---------------------------------- quarter lb Butter, unsalted 7 tb Shortening; Crisco 1 c Sugar, granulated half ts Vanilla 3 tb Flour, cake two third c Buttermilk; room temperature Mix together the red food coloring and instant cocoa; set aside. Cream together the half cup of shortening, 1- half cup sugar and eggs. Add colored paste and mix well. Add 1 cup buttermilk, 2- quarter cup cake flour and salt. Mix well, add 1 teaspoon vanilla, vinegar and baking soda. Mix well again. Bake in 180ºC oven 30-35 minutes. For the icing, cream together butter, remaining shortening and vanilla. Mix very well with electric beater; add remaining flour, 1 tablespoon at a time while mixing. Add remaining buttermilk and mix well. Notes: This recipe was handed down from my mother-in-law and I have never seen the equal of it! For Christmas, add green food coloring to the icing for a real Christmas effect. The hand written recipe did not indicate pan size, type or quantity ... but works well as a layer cake or in a springform cake pan. If you make this cake, let me know how you like it. Rick Weissgerber an original upload to GEnie F&WRT. -----