Chocolate Marble Loaf Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan. In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder, and salt.

In a large bowl beat shortening with a mixer on medium to high 30 seconds. Add sugar and vanilla; beat on medium 2 minutes or until light. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Add flour mixture and milk alternately, beating on low after each addition just until combined.

Transfer 1 cup of the batter to a medium bowl. In a small bowl combine chocolate, water, baking soda, and, if desired red food coloring. Stir chocolate mixture into the 1 cup batter.

Using a separate large spoon for each batter, alternately drop spoonfuls of plain and chocolate batter into the prepared pan. Using a table knife or thin metal spatula, gently cut through batters to swirl them together (do not overmix).

Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool cake in pan 5 minutes. Remove cake from pan; cool on wire rack. Frost with Chocolate Frosting.