Red Velvet Cake (courtesy of Roach!)

Cake
1/2 cup + 1 tbsp. shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 – 4 tsp. cocoa powder
1 small bottle red food coloring (I think it is 1 oz.)
1 tsp. salt
1 cup milk + 1 tsp. vinegar + 1 tsp. baking soda
• Stir all together and let sit for 5 minutes

Cream shortening, sugar and eggs. Beat until fluffy. Add the rest of the ingredients and beat gently until mixed. Grease and flour 2 round baking pans. Split batter evenly between pans. Bake 350 for 30 minutes or until done. Cool, remove from pan and split the rounds in half so you have 4 layers.

Frosting
1 cup milk
3 tbsp. flour
• Mix together until not lumpy and cook over heat until very thick - stirring constantly. Cool completely! Very important!!!

1 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

• Cream butter, sugar and vanilla until very, very fluffy – about 10 minutes in a good stand up mixer. Add the flour/milk mixture and continue beating until all sugar is dissolved – about 15 minutes.

Frost the inside layers of the cake only for the true southern version…