Let Them Eat Cake

We had a lovely little gathering for Sophie's first birthday over the weekend. Derek and Andree (two of our dearest friends from Cyprus who were at Jack's first birthday party, too!) happened to be in town and were able to join us for the day, and a few special folks from church came over for cake and balloons. It was splendid!

For Sophie's cake, I used a recipe that originally appeared in the December 1998 issue of Southern Living magazine (it was made in square pans and decorated like a Christmas gift, thus the name). Since some of you will be making cakes to celebrate Valentine's Day this week, I wanted to pass it along, especially for those of you who live outside the US. The frosting is really yummy and tastes exactly like those tubs of frosting you can buy in the States.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

GIFT BOX CAKE
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup margarine
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup water
2/3 cup milk
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbs. double-acting baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract
6 egg whites

Beat butter and margarine at medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes or until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well.
Combine water and milk. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in vanilla and almond extracts.
Beat egg whites at high speed until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. Pour into three greased and floured cake pans.
Bake at 350F/180C for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool on wire racks.

POWDERED SUGAR FROSTING
1 cup margarine
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
24 oz. or 750 g. powdered/icing sugar, sifted
1/2 cup evaporated milk

Combine first 4 ingredients; beat at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric mixer until blended.
Add powdered sugar alternately with milk, beating at low speed until blended after each addition. Beat at medium speed for 8 minutes or until light and fluffy.