Waldorf Astoria Red Velvet Cake & Icing

***Cake Ingredients1/2 cup shortening1 1/2 cups sugar 2 oz red food coloring2 eggs2 cups flour2 Tbsp cocoa powder1/2 tsp salt1 tsp vanilla extract (we used Mexican vanilla)1 cup buttermilk1 tsp vinegar1 tsp baking soda

***Icing Ingredients1 cup milk1/2 cup flour1 cup sugar1/8 tsp salt1 stick butter2 tsp vanilla1/2 cup shortening

For cake layer: cream shortening and sugar, add coloring. Add eggs one at a time, and beat well after each. Sift salt, flour and cocoa together and add to sugar mixture. Add buttermilk and vanilla and beat well, Dissolve soda into vinegar, then fold into batter. Do not Beat! Divide batter evenly into 2 or 3 8” baking pans and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

For Icing: cook milk and flour over low heat until thick as pudding. Let cool. Beat sugar, oleo, shortening, salt and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add milk and flour mixture and beat again. This icing never gets hard.

Leftovers should be refrigerated.