CAKES.
Thin cakes require a hotter oven than those baked in thick loaves. Cakes with molasses in them burn more quickly than others. Thin cakes should bake from fifteen to twenty minutes, thicker cakes from thirty to forty minutes, and very thick loaves about one hour. If only the yolks of the eggs are used the cake is richer, if only the whites it is lighter. Have all ingredients ready, then see that fire and oven are right, and mix carefully. The secret of fine grained cake is in the mixing. First always cream the butter by beating, then add sugar slowly, creaming carefully, then add the well beaten yolks of eggs. Sift the flour and baking powder together three times, at least, then add alternately in small quantities the flour and milk, and last of all the stiffly beaten whites of eggs, working them in as lightly as possible.
ONE EGG CAKE.
Cream one half cupful of butter in a warm bowl adding slowly one cupful of sugar, whip the yolk of one egg and add to butter and sugar. Have ready two cupfuls of flour into which has been sifted two teaspoonfuls of baking powder; put flour and baking powder through sifter three times. Add flour and one cupful of milk slowly and alternately to butter mixture, adding last of all the whites of egg beaten stiff and one teaspoonful of flavoring. Bake in loaf in moderate oven for thirty minutes.
ORANGE CAKE.
Cream one third cupful of butter with one and one half cupfuls of sugar; add the well beaten yolks of three eggs and one teaspoonful of flavoring, beat well; add alternately, in small quantities, two heaping cupfuls of flour, into which two rounded teaspoonfuls of baking powder has been sifted, and one cupful of milk; last of all add the whites of the three eggs, beaten to a stiff froth, folding them into the dough lightly. Bake in shallow pans for about twenty minutes, or until cake shrinks from the pan. Put together with orange icing.
IDA’S CAKE.
Beat the whites of four eggs very stiff and set in refrigerator to chill; cream the yolks; add one cupful of sugar and a teaspoonful of lemon extract; sift flour until very light, and sprinkle in one cupful slowly, stirring lightly; then fold in the whites of the eggs as delicately as possible. Bake in moderate oven.
ANGEL FOOD.
Sift one cupful of flour and one half teaspoonful of cream of tartar together, sifting at least six times; add one cupful of sugar, sift again; beat the whites of seven eggs stiff; chill; then whip in the flour and sugar; flavor with one teaspoonful of vanilla extract. Bake in moderate oven.