Lightning Cake

3 1/2 cups sifted Swan's Down Cake Flour
2 tsp. baking powder (Calumet)
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs, unbeaten
soft shortening as needed
1 cup milk
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Sift flour once, measure, add baking powder and salt, and sift together three times. Break eggs in cup and add enough shortening to fill cup. Put all ingredients into mixing bowl and beat vigorously 2 minutes. Bake in three greased 9-inch layer pans in moderate oven (375F) 25 minutes.

-- Laura Katherine Siddons Nieser, "Aunt Lollie," 1891-1963