This is a cake recipe that my sister used to make for me. Her house burned down a long time ago and she lost the recipe, we cannot find it anywhere

It is a red cake that I remember had a whole thing of red food coloring in it.

Here is the tricky part. I remember the icing had 1 cup of crisco and coconut.
I know it sounds weird but it was wonderful.

Sounds like a type of Red Devil cake. I have never made one and hope you have good luck finding it.

The cake part sounds like Red Velvet Cake - made with a chocolate cake.

Don't know about the icing.

Try allrecipes.com. Near the top is an 'ingredient' search. Put in crisco and coconut and/or whatever else you think when it in.

Try http://www.crisco.com for the frosting recipe.

Our family calls this $200 Waldorf Astoria Cake as the recipe came from that hotel and when a lady asked for the recipe it was sent to her with a bill for $200. she raised the $$ to pay for the $200 by selling copies of the recipe. Our frosting did not have coconut in it but it was made by cooking a kind of "paste", cooling it and then whipping it for a long time...My Mom colored the frosting green to go with the red of the cake for a Christmas dessert. I have never made it.. just enjoying the memories of eating it each year.

WALDORF RED CAKE
1/2 C Crisco
1 1/2 C sugar
2 eggs
2 oz (4 bottles) red food coloring
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp cocoa
1 tsp salt
1 C buttermilk
2 1/4 C cake flour
1 tsp vinegar
1 t soda

Cream crisco, sugar & eggs; make paste w/coloring and cocoa; then add salt, buttermilk and mix slowly. Add flour and vanilla; add vinegar and soda last. DO NOT BEAT AFTER FLOUR, just blend. Bake in 9" pans 30 min. at 350.

ICING
Cook 1 C milk and 6 TB flour until very thick, then cool. Cream 1 C butter, 1 C sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Add flour mixture and beat until smooth at high speed. When cake is cool, slice each layer horizontally in two (will have 4 layers). Ice between layers and sides. THIS IS A LARGE CAKE

You add all the buttermilk and then all the flour? Not alternating?

Yes............ (NOT alternating). I made this once many years ago and just followed the instructions.... it turned out great!

I'm bookmarking to try later... not now though... too much indulgence over the holidays. DH will love this one!

Paula Deen has a great recipe. Try her site on Food Network.