FAMOUS BROWN DERBY RED VELVET CAKE AND ICING

2 1/2 cups cake flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons instant cocoa mix
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 ounces red food coloring
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda
Mystery Icing (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 layer cake pans.

Sift together flour, salt, instant cocoa mix; set aside.

Cream butter and sugar. When well creamed beat in whole eggs one at a time. Blend well, add food coloring and vanilla; set aside.

Mix buttermilk, vinegar and baking soda. Add alternately with dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Blend at low speed between additions. Put in prepared pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Don't over bake. Cool slightly, remove cake from pans and set on rack to cool completely before frosting.

MYSTERY ICING (NEVER HARDENS):

4 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 cup white granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
3 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

Blend flour and milk together in a saucepan. Cook until thick. Cool slightly.

Cream together, sugar, margarine, shortening, salt and vanilla. Add slightly cooked flour mixture and beat until fluffy.

Yield: 10 servings