Grandma'S Strawberry Meringue Torte - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 large eggs, separated
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 1/4 c. sugar, divided
4 Tbsp. milk
1 c. cake flour, sifted with 1 tsp. baking powder and 1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
container of Cool Whip
1 pkg. frozen strawberries with sugar added
fresh strawberries (for decoration; optional)

Preparation

Beat butter and 1/2 cup sugar with electric mixer until creamy.
Add yolks, one at a time.
Add milk.
Beat until smooth. Sift together cake flour, baking powder and salt.
Gradually add to butter mixture.
Continue beating until smooth.
Stir in vanilla.
Pour into 2 well-greased 9-inch round cake pans.
Beat (room temperature) egg whites until frothy.
Gradually add remainder of sugar (3/4 cup) and cream of tartar; beat until soft peaks are formed.
Spread meringue over batter evenly.