Lady Baltimore Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.

Beat together the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until pale and creamy. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the almond extract to the milk. Add a little of the dry ingredients to the butter-sugar mixture and mix in. Then stir in a little of the milk. Alternately add the remaining dry and wet ingredients in small amounts until both are completely incorporated. Beat until a smooth batter is formed. Beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold the whites into the batter, a third at a time. Pour into the prepared cake pans.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in middle of cake comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes in the pans, then turn out onto a rack and cool completely.

Prepare the filling and frosting while the cake layers are cooling, then fill and frost.

This recipe yields 12 to 16 servings.