Combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt, and sugar in sifter.
Stir shortening just to soften.
Sift in dry ingredients.
Add 1 cup of the milk and mix until all flour is dampened.
Beat 2 minutes at a low speed of electric mixer or 300 vigorous strokes by hand.
Add eggs, vanilla, melted chocolate, food coloring, and remaining milk.
Beat 1 minute longer in mixer or 150 strokes by hand.
Pour batter into two 9-inch layer pans or three 8-inch layer pans which have been lined on the bottoms with paper.
Bake in moderate oven (350°F.) 25 to 30 minutes for 9-inch layers and 20 to 25 minutes for 8-inch layers.
Frost with Sea Foam Frosting or Chocolate Fudge Frosting.
This cake may also be baked in two 8x8x2-inch pans in moderate oven (350°F.) 30 to 35 minutes, or in 13x-9x2-inch pan 35 to 40 minutes.
Frost with Meringue Topping