Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs, beat well. Sift flour, salt & cocoa. Add alternately the buttermilk & flour mixture to the creamed mixture. Add vanilla & food color. Fold in dissolved vinegar mixture last. Grease and flour 4 - 9 inch pans.
Bake @ 350 for 25-30 minutes.
Cool completely before frosting.
Frosting Directions
Cook the milk and flour over medium heat until thickened consistency. Stirring constantly.
Cool in the refrigerator. While that is cooling, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Mix together the cooled milk/flour mixture with the creamed butter/sugar mixture. Add vanilla.