good cake recipe

i haven't baked from scratch before, but i did today! i messed up a few things, so it wasn't the best, but it  was okay! here is the recipe i used, some pointers, and how it turned out. recipe from

•  2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup milk 
  • 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs
  • 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9x13 inch pan. Mix together the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
    2. In a large bowl, cream sugar and shortening until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Add flour mixture alternately with milk, beating just to combine. finally, stir in vanilla. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
    3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 or longer. 
    4. so here are some pointers, remember to use baking powder and not baking soda, there's a difference. follow the recipe exactly. if the cake is to dry, add extra milk, pr put the egg whites in first, and the put in the egg yolks. if you want the cake to be a little chocolaty, right when you pull the cake out of the oven, put a thin layer of chocolate frosting on the tpo and sides.
    5. it didn't turn out the best, but it was still edible. i may have kept it in the oven to long, but it was okay. it was a little bland and dull, and a little salty, but it was okay. 
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