3 cups sifted cake flour

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

¾ teaspoon salt

¾ cup butter, softened

2 ¼ cups sugar

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

3 eggs

3 (1 oz.) squares unsweetened baking chocolate, melted

1 ½ cups ice water

1 teaspoon red food coloring, if desired

Preheat the oven to 350°.  Generously grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round cake pans.  Sift flour, baking soda and salt into a medium-size bowl.  In a large bowl, cream butter.  Gradually add sugar and vanilla, beating until mixture is fluffy.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.  Blend in melted chocolate.  Add dry ingredients alternately with ice water and food coloring.  Mix batter 2 minutes or until well blended.  Pour into prepared pans.  Bake in preheated oven 30 to 35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes.  Remove from pans; cool completely.