Mother's Oh and Ah! Cake

-(1-oz) 1 c Very hot water

1 ts Red food coloring

1 1/2 ts Baking soda

2 c Granulated sugar

1/2 ts Salt

3 Eggs

1/2 c Shortening

2 1/2 c Sifted cake flour

(sifted before measuring) 1 c Sour cream

3/18/96 Grease and flour

1 (13-by-9-by-2 1/2-inch) pan or 3 (8-inch) cake pans. Preheat oven to

350 degrees. Combine chocolate and hot water; stir until chocolate melts. Let cool, then add food coloring and baking soda. Stir and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar, salt, eggs and shortening until fluffy. Mix in a third of the flour, then

1/3 cup sour cream; repeat twice. Add chocolate mixture; beat about 2 minutes on medium speed of mixer. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake about 45 minutes for 13-by-9-inch pan (less for cake pans), or until toothpick