Old Mansion Holiday Cake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 1/2 c. sifted Swans Down cake flour
3 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 1/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening (lard or Crisco)
1 c. milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. almond extract
4 egg whites, beaten to meringue with 1/3 c. sugar

Preparation

Have shortening at room temperature and stir just to soften. Sift in dry ingredients.
Add 3/4 cup milk and mix until all flour is dampened.
Beat 2 minutes with mixer at low speed, or 300 strokes by hand.
Add two flavorings and mix.
Add meringue and the remaining milk and beat 150 strokes by hand or 1 minute by mixer at a low speed.
Turn batter into 2 round 9-inch layer cake pans that are 1 1/2 inches deep and have had the bottoms lined with waxed paper and have been greased.
Bake 30 minutes or until done. Cool.
Frost.