<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Oil and shortening ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE in baking.  If you are usisng
oil in a recipe that has called for shortening or butter, you are going
to have to adjust the dry ingredients because the moister ratio will
have been changed.  You can use oil in a recipe that calls for MELTED
BUTTER.

You can find many cake recipes that use oil, olive oil in fact, in
Italian cook books.  I just bought THE CHEIFS OF CUCIAN AMORE, which is
a new series on PBS and there was recipes calling for oil.

If you are not thrilled with the thought of using margarine, be aware
that shortening is really bad.  You may want to check out a health food
store and see if there is anything there you may use.

Another possiblity is to check the low fat receipes in which applesauce
and prunes are used to replace fats.  Your local book store should have
a good selection of those.

Ann