Lorna Barrett - Bookmarked For Death

2½ cups flour

1½ teaspoons vanilla

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon vinegar

Cream shortening; beat in sugar gradually. Add eggs, one at a time; beat well after each addition. Make a paste of cocoa and food coloring; add to creamed mixture. Add salt, flour, and vanilla alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Sprinkle soda over vinegar; pour the mixture over batter. Mix well.

Bake in 3 prepared 8-inch pans or 2 9-inch pans for 30 minutes at 350º F, or until toothpick tester comes out clean.

12 servings

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1½cups butter, softened

3¾ cups confectioners’ sugar

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

In a large mixing bowl, combine ingredients; beat until smooth and creamy. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake.

Frosts one cake.

You can color your cream cheese frosting with red food coloring, or make your own “stage” blood.

1 cup white corn syrup

1 tablespoon red food coloring

1 tablespoon yellow food coloring

1 tablespoon water (optional; it’ll “thin” the “blood”)

Mix well, drizzle over one side of cake.

Makes 1 cup (or ¼ pint).