This is a wonderful basic recipe that has been handed down from generation to generation.

1 cup butter
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour (sifted, then measured)
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Cream butter and sugar until very fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift flour, salt and baking powder three times. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Add extracts. Divide evenly in three greased and floured 9-inch cake pans. Bake until straw tester comes out clean (approximately 25 to 30 minutes).

Cool in pans for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on cake racks. Make sure cake bottom is next to rack.

If white layers are desired, substitute 6 egg whites for whole eggs and solid shortening for butter. Beat whites until soft peaks form and fold into cake batter LAST.

NOTE: For an especially velvety cake, use 2 duck eggs and 2 hen eggs instead of 4 hen eggs.