I got this from one of my former participants, when I worked at the Senior Center. She was from the hills of Kentucky, and had lots of “Down home” recipes….some of them including squirrels.

This one is squirrel free, and I can’t even begin to tell you how scrumptious it is. It’s so dense and so moist that when you’re finished with it, it’ll feel like it weighs 20 pounds. I’m afraid it falls under no weight-loss diet, but holy cow is it good.

Red Velvet Cake

1 cup buttermilk
1 ½ cup sugar
6 eggs (not a typo)
1 tsp soda
2 tsp vinegar
1 oz red food coloring
2 ½ cups flour
1 ½ cups oil
1 stick butter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp cocoa

Mix ingredients in order listed until smooth and creamy. Pour into 2 greased and floured 8” layer pans (or I use a 9 x 13). Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes

Frosting

1 lb powdered sugar
1 8oz package cream cheese softened
2 tsp vanilla
1 stick butter
1 cup chopped nuts

Blend until creamy. Makes enough to frost 2-layer cake (or the one layer 9 x 13).

oh my goodness, ray's mom makes this all the time when she comes to visit. you're right. it is soooo good. dammit, i want some now.

This means she's deceased now, is that what you're saying!?!

That recipe kicks big-time arse, I can tell!

actually "former" was referring to the fact that i no longer work there, and she actually moved to another state.

interesting though, i did talk to her son-in-law the other day, and despite the fact that all of her cake recipes call for six eggs and a stick of butter, she's doing very well.

no squirrels?!?!....pffft.

This is my favorite recipe:

Grandmother Paul's Red Velvet Cake

2 cups sugar
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2 eggs
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 ounces red food coloring
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter, beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well after each addition. Mix cocoa and food coloring together and then add to sugar mixture; mix well. Sift together flour and salt. Add flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Blend in vanilla. In a small bowl, combine baking soda and vinegar and add to mixture. Pour batter into 3 (8-inch) round greased and floured pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from heat and cool completely before frosting.

Janelle's frosting recipe sounds good to me (and better than Paula Deen's, whose recipe for frosting calls for marshmallow!).

Mmm....Red Velvet cake.....I forgot that this is one of my favorite desserts.