This is a fairly simple cake that my family has used for birthday cakes since time immemorial. I strongly suspect that it's a red velvet cake without the red food coloring, but I'm not sure.

COCOA VELVET CAKE

2/3 cup shortening
1.5 cup sugar

1 cup well-shaken buttermilk

1.75 cup sifted flour
1.5 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
6 Tbsp. cocoa

2 large eggs

Grease and flour two 8" cake pans. Preheat oven to 350 deg F.

Cream the shortening and sugar together. Mix in the buttermilk.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, soda, salt and cocoa. Gradually add to the shortening mixture and mix well for several minutes. (If you have a mixer, 2 minutes. If not, beat until your arm feels like it's going to fall off.)

Add the eggs and beat again. (With a mixer, two minutes. Without one, until your arm actually does fall off.)

Bake at 350 deg F for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool before removing from the pan.

Frost with Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing. If you want to get really fancy (and I suggest you do), mix about one third of the frosting with about 1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam or similar. Use that for between the cake layers.