The Devil Is In The Details

 Recipe for Red Cake:

Cream
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs

Add
2 oz red food coloring (that seems like a lot)
1 tsp cocoa - mix well

Add 2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda

Bake at 360 degrees

Found in "Cooking With the Pennsylvania Dutch" edited by A. Monroe Aurand. Published by The Aurand Press, 1946.

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