225g/.1 cup
butter or margarine, at room temperature
285g/1 1/2 cups
sugar
4 eggs, separated
10ml/2 tsp
vanilla essence
385g/3 1/2 cups
plain flour
10ml/2 tsp baking
powder
1.5ml/1/4 tsp
salt
250ml/1 cup milk
FOR THE FROSTING
150g/5oz plain
chocolate
120ml/1/2 cup
soured cram
1.5ml/1/4 tsp
salt
Method:
Preheat the oven
to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Line two 20cm/8in round cake
tins with greaseproof paper and grease the paper.
Dust the tins with flour. Tap to remove any excess.
Cream the butter
or margarine until soft. Gradually add the sugar and
beat until light and fluffy. Beat the egg yolks,
then add to the butter mixture with the vanilla.
Sift the flour
with the baking powder three times. Set aside. Beat
the egg whites with the salt until they peak stiffly.
Fold the dry
ingredients into the butter mixture in three
batches, alternating with the milk. Add a dollop of
the egg white and fold in to lighten the mixture.
Fold in the rest until just blended.
Spoon into the
cake tins and bake until the cakes pull away from
the sides, about 30 minutes. Leave in the tins for 5
minutes, then turn out on to a wire rack.
For the frosting,
melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler.
When cool, stir in the soured cream and salt.
Sandwich the layers with frosting, then spread on
the top and side.