Red Velvet Cake for Valentine's Day -- U Can Make It or Buy It : ) "YUM-O"

Red Velvet Cake for Valentine's Day!

Nothing says Valentine's Day better than Red Velvet Cake. It is a real treat. If you have never tried it, you are in for a big surprise! And, you can make it yourself. The name for red velvet cake comes from its red color. The most common story about the origin of this cake sites that this cake originated at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. A guest ordered a slice and liked it so much that she asked for the recipe. The hotel gave it up and billed her $100. Furious, she spread the recipe around in chain letters. Alas, the story is not true. (According to What's Cooking America,) the hotel has no record of this incident. No matter, it is good. Note (check out What's Cooking America -- Great site!) Another point of reference ... Steel Magnolias (movie starring Julia Roberts, Tom Skerret and Sally Fields); which had the famous "bloody armadillo" groom's cake scene. If you have not seen the movie, as stated above, the groom's cake was a red velvet cake. Because the cake is "that good" below are two receipes and resources where you can just "buy it." Enjoy.

Grandmother Paul's Red Velvet Cake

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

Icing:

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese

1 stick butter, softened

1 cup melted marshmallows

1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar

1 cup shredded coconut

1 cup chopped pecans

Cake:

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.

Icing:

Blend cream cheese and butter together in a mixing bowl. Add marshmallows and sugar and blend. Fold in coconut and nuts. Spread between layers and on top and sides of cooled cake.

Source: Paula's Home Cooking

or you can buy one:

Red
Velvet Chocolate Anniversary Cake