Cathy's Red Velvet Cake

Ingredients:
1/2 C shortening
1 1/2 C sugar
2 eggs
2 2oz. red food coloring
1 T cocoa
1 t soda
1 t salt
1 C buttermilk
2 1/2 C sifted plain flour
1 T vinegar
1 t vanilla

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°. Cream shortening and add sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add cake coloring and cocoa. Sift flour and salt together and then add alternating with buttermilk. Fold in soda and vinegar. Pour into two greased and floured pans. Bake in preheated oven at 350° fir 30-35 minutes. Cool and frost with cream cheese icing.

Cream Cheese Icing:
1 Box (16oz) confectioner's sugar (sifted), minus ½ C
1 stick butter, softened
1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
1 t vanilla
1 C chopped pecans

Combine first 4 ingredients and beat with electric mixer until smooth. Fold in the nuts and spread over the cake.