White Cake

Ingredients

1 ½ cups flour

1 tsp baking soda (not baking powder)

½ tsp salt

1/2 cup sugar

½ cup vegetable oil

1 cup cold water (discard 2 tbsp)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

3 tsp vinegar

Directions

1.  Preheat over to 350˚F.

2.  Mix all the dry ingredients together.

3.  Mix all the wet ingredients together except vinegar.

4.  Mix dry and wet ingredients and blend on low speed until well mixed.

5.  Pour into ungreased, unfloured glass baking dishes (either 2 loaf pans or 1 8 inch pan).

6.  Add the vinegar and mix (not blend) RIGHT before baking.

7.  Bake for 30-40 minutes until top of cake cracks.

Mascarpone and Whipping Cream Filling

Ingredients

1/2 pint (1 cups) whipping cream

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tbsp sugar

4 oz Mascarpone cheese

Directions

1.  In a large mixing bowl (the quantity will almost triple in size), blend the whipping cream, vanilla, and 1/2 tbsp of sugar on high until stiff peaks form.

2.  Add the Mascarpone and blend again until very stiff.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

Strawberry Filling

Ingredients

1 lb strawberries, cut into small pieces

2 tbsp sugar

strawberries, cut in half for decorating the top (optional - if doing this, take it from the 1 lb)

Directions

1.  Mix the strawberry pieces with 2 tbsp of sugar.  Let it sit for 30 min, then drain.  (you can keep the water to add to a smoothie, or some other recipe if you want).

Tall Cake Assembly (see pictures on right)

1.  Make a double recipe of everything and bake in 3 loaf pans.  Once the cake cools, flip them out of the pan and cut the tops off so that all three cakes are level.

2.  Layer as follows on a serving dish:

Layer 1: cake. 

Layer 2: ~1/2 cup cream filling. 

Layer 3: ~1/3 of the strawberries. 

Layer 4: cake.  

Layer 5: ~1/2 cup cream filling. 

Layer 6: ~1/3 of the strawberries. 

Layer 7: cake.

3.  Use the remaining cream filling to cover the top and sides of the cake.

4.  Spread the remaining 1/3 of the strawberries on top OR spread the remaining 1/3 of the strawberries on the bottom of the cake and arrange the strawberry halves on top.

5.  Refrigerate until ready to eat.

Short Cake Assembly (not pictured)

1.  Make a single recipe of everything and bake in an 8 inch pan.  Once the cake cools, flip it onto a serving dish.

2.  Use the cream filling to cover the top and sides of the cake.

3.  Spread the strawberries on top.

4.  Refrigerate until ready to eat.