Lemon Angel Food Cake

Ingredients:

1 ½ C. sifted cake flour

1 ¾ C. sugar

14 egg whites

Pinch of salt

1 tea. Cream of tartar

Zest of one lemon

2 tea. Vanilla extract

¾ tea. Lemon oil

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Sift flour into mixing bowl. Sift sugar into separate bowl and set both aside. In a copper or stainless steel bowl, beat egg whites to soft peaks; add salt when whites are just foamy (add cream of tartar at this point if using a stainless steel bowl). Gently fold in sugar with a rubber spatula; fold in flour in two batched. Add lemon zest, vanilla, and lemon oil. When all is completely incorporated, transfer batter to angel food cake pan and smooth top. Bake until cake is pale brown in color and springs back when gently touched with finger, and when a skewer inserted in center comes out clean (approx. 1 hour). Cool upside down in pan. To serve, gently remove from pan, releasing sides with knife. Serves 10-12.

Frosting:

2 Cups. Whipping cream

½ pkg. lemon pudding

Serve with fresh fruit, especially nice with raspberries or strawberries. (FYI this is my official birthday cake, the one I asked for every year growing up...mmm)