What is a good a good substitute for shortening when making cake or brownies?

I am making brownies and banana bread for christmas give aways and my recipe requires shortening. I am unfortunately not living in the u.s and shortening is not readily available in the grocery. Is buttter or margarine ok to use ? Will this affect the taste?What is a good a good substitute for shortening when making cake or brownies?
Rule of thumb I learned is that butter can be substituted for shortening as follows:


1 cup shortening = 1 1/8 c butter


Also, decrease salt called for in recipe by 1/2 tsp. You will also get a more buttery taste in the finished product than was intended.What is a good a good substitute for shortening when making cake or brownies?
You can use butter or vegetible oil really what the recipe needs is a fat measure all out the same the texture may be a little differant but overall you wont be able to tell much of a differance.
vegetable oil crisco butter
vegetable oil, crisco, butter, margarine
Go with butter. It tastes better and will work better in most cake or brownie recipes.
apple sauce
use butter,margarine,or oil they will turn out fine