GOLD CAKE

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup butter or shortening
1 cup sugar
4 egg yolks, well beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
2 cups sifted cake flour
3 teaspoons baking powder

COOKING DIRECTIONS

Sift together flour and baking powder until well combined.

Cream butter OR shortening well, add sugar. Beat.

Add egg yolks, beaten until light, and vanilla. Mix.

Stir in a small portion of flour/baking powder mixture, then pour in a small amount of milk. Repeat, beating after each addition until all ingredients are used. To avoid a tough cake texture, do not overbeat.

Pour batter into a greased and floured baking pan.

Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes.

Serves 6 to 8.

NO FAIL CAKE

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon butter
2 eggs, well beaten
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla or lemon extract

COOKING DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a small saucepan, heat together milk and butter until butter melts. Beat eggs well, adding sugar gradually.

On a sheet of waxed on parchment paper, mix together flour, baking powder, salt and extract. Stir dry ingredients into egg mixture. Pour in hot milk and butter mixture. Stir together only enough to combine ingredients.

Butter and flour a 9x9 inch cake pan (or spray with Baker's Joy). Pour in batter and level it with a spatula.

Bake 35-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Variation: Increase baking powder to 1 1/2 teaspoons, add 3/4 cup pared and chopped Granny Smith (or other tart apples), 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp ground ginger to batter when mixing.