Blueberry Cake

Also from my mom, this recipe rivals pineapple-upsidedown cake for Cake Rykilde Likes Best. And trust me, that is a real accomplishment. I think it's from Cooking Down East by Standish.

Blueberry Cake

Ingredients

• 2 eggs, separated
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup shortening. Doesn't quite work right if you use butter, but it's still plenty tasty.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups sifted flour. Sifting is absolutely necessary.
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries. I think maine blueberries - the itty bitty ones, not the big ones - work best for this recipe. It's a good idea to take a bit of flour from the recipe and shake the blueberries in it, so they don't stick together when you mix them in.
  
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8" by 8" pan.
2. Beat egg whites until stiff. Add about 1/4 cup of the sugar to keep them stiff.
3. Cream together shortening, salt, vanilla, and remaining sugar. Add sugar gradually.
4. Add unbeaten yolks and beat until light and creamy.
5. Alternately add sifted dry ingredients and milk.
6. Fold in whites, then blueberries.
7. Turn batter out into the greased pan and sprinkle the top with granulated sugar.
8. Bake for 50-60 minutes.

Makes about 8 slices.