The authors, The Brothers Grimm actually called her Little Red Cap and she was being sent to the grandmother's house with a piece of cake and a bottle of wine...
The earliest known version was by Charles Perrault and she was known as Le Petit Chaperon Rouge and it had its origins in 17th century French folklore. It was told to the Brothers Grimm who rehashed it as Rotk�ppchen.
That's really interesting shaneystar... i was always under the impression the Grimm Brothers originated the story... Thanks! (How do you do the umlaut? )