Mom's White Buttermilk Birthday Cake

Simply the BEST!

1 cup shortening

2 cups sugar

3 cups cake or AP flour, sifted

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 cup buttermilk

1 tsp lemon juice or white vinegar

1 tbsp vanilla

5 egg whites

Cream shortening and sugar; add dry ingredients alternately with wet; add egg whites one at a time, beating well between each addition.

Bake at 325 for 30 min.

Buttercream Icing: double mixture if icing a layer cake

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup shortening

1 tbsp vanilla

5 cups confectioner's sugar

3 tbsp milk, cream, or half and half

Cream butter and shortening, gradually add in sugar and beat well; add milk and vanilla last and beat until fluffy.