Red Velvet Cake

First I have to explain my absence..........I'm 20 weeks pregnant. I was sick for the first 12 weeks but now I feel much better. Being sick and having a busy summer has really put this blog on the back burner. Hopefully I can keep it up a little better now. At least until the baby comes:)

Now onto a delicious cake I made way back at the end of May. I got it from the Pioneer Woman's cookbook. Yes, I actually bought it and went to a book signing. I saw her in person and she is just as cute as I thought she would be. She seemed super nice and genuine. This is actually the only thing I've made from the book so far. But there are lots of very yummy looking things I hope to try.
Ingredients

1 cup shortening
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. vinegar
1 oz. red food coloring
1 1/2 tsp. cocoa powder

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 1/2 8 oz. packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
1 1/2 lbs. powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two round 10 in. cake pans. Blend together shortening and sugar. Set aside.
Sift together flour and salt. Set aside.
Mix eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, baking soda, and vinegar.
Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk mixture into shortening mixture, mixing after each addition.
In small bowl mix red food coloring and cocoa powder, pour into batter and mix until combined.
Pour batter evenly into cake pans and bake for 25 minutes or until done. Cool and frost.
The best thing about this cake is how pretty it is. I love the red color.