Christmas Chocolate Town Cake

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

½ cup boiling water

⅔ cup shortening

1 ¾ cups white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 ⅓ cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 - 9 inch pans. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

Combine cocoa and boiling water in small bowl to form a smooth paste. Cool slightly.

In a large bowl, cream together the shortening, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk, mixing just until incorporated. Blend in cocoa paste.

Divide batter into 2 prepared 9 inch pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans then turn out onto wire rack and cool completely.