Quiltingboard Forums - The Best Birthday Cake EVER

25 years ago, I used to use an employment agency to hire new employees on a regular basis. The owner gave her regular customers a wonderful birthday cake every year to thank us for our business. When I left the state, I called and begged her for the recipe. I just made one today and it's just too good to keep for myself.
Don't substitute low fat crap, and don't skimp on the beating! It takes some special shopping and a little extra time, but I swear, you'll never willingly make a box cake again! Here you go:

VIRGINIA'S BIRTHDAY CAKE

5 eggs-separated
1 C Buttermilk
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 stick Butter
1/2 C Shortening
2 C Sugar
2 C Flour
1 tsp Vanilla
1 C Chopped Pecans
1 C Sweetened Flaked Coconut

Preheat oven to 325
Beat egg whites until stiff, set aside
Add baking soda to butter milk in a two cup bowl, set aside
Cream shortening and butter - add sugar gradually
Add egg yolks one at a time, beat well after adding each
Add buttermilk mixture and flour, alternate about half at a time
Add vanilla
Fold in egg whites by hand
Fold in pecans and coconut by hand

Grease and flour 3 - 9" pans. Bake at 325 for 30 min or until a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.

ICING

1 stick Butter - room temp
8 oz Cream Cheese - room temp
1 lb Powdered Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla

Cream butter and cream cheese, slowly add powdered sugar and vanilla.

After you've made and tried this wonderful cake, you may post these words to me: "MMMM, yum, Rose, that's the best cake I ever ate!"