SOUTHERN BUTTERMILK RED VELVET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans.
• Cream together butter and sugar with electric mixer until fluffy.
• Add the eggs, one at a time and beat well after each.
• Make a paste with the food coloring and cocoa.
• (It takes a few minutes to get the chocolate to absorb liquid--be patient and keep stirring).
• Add this paste to the butter/sugar mixture.
• Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda.
• Add it to the sugar/butter mixture alternately with the buttermilk, mixing well between additions.
• (Begin and end with dry ingredients).
• After last addition of flour mixture, stir in vanilla and vinegar.
• Beat for another minute and then divide into 3 prepared pans.
• Bake for about 35 minutes, or until done.
• Cool for 10 minutes and then remove from pan to wire rack to cool completely.
• To make icing: Mix flour and milk in small pan and cook over low heat until it is thick (stirring often--constantly near end).
• This will take about 10 minute.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla.
• Beat until it is very light and fluffy, about 10 minutes.
• When the flour mixture is cooled, add it to the butter mixture and beat until just mixed.
• Assemble the cake with a thin layer of icing between the layers and cover the top and sides of cake.