Mary Todd Lincoln Cake

The marriage of Mary Todd to Abraham Lincoln is best expressed by the words Lincoln had engraved inside Marys wedding band, "Love is eternal." Mary expressed her feelings in less dramatic, but lasting and tasteful terms. She baked him her favorite white cake. This is her recipe. 1 c. butter 1 tsp. vanilla 2 1/4 c. cake flour 1 tbsp. baking powder 1 1/3 c. milk 1 c. finely chopped almonds 6 egg whites, stiffly beaten Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Sift together cake flour and baking powder 3 times. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Stir in almonds. Gently fold in the egg whites. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9 x 1 1/2 inch round baking pans. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan. Bring to boiling sugar, water, cream of tartar and salt. Boil until sugar dissolves. Put egg whites in mixing bowl. Start beater and while egg whites are beating, very slowly add hot syrup. Beat until stiff peaks form, about 7 minutes. Beat in vanilla for 1 more minute. This recipe came from the museum in the Eastern National Park and Monument Association, located directly in front of Lincolns home. This is where he lived when he was elected to the Presidency of the United States. Recipe by: Cookbook USA Posted to MC-Recipe Digest V1 #1005 by Gerald Edgerton on Jan 12, 1998