This recipe is pretty much the same as I've made for years as a Christmas tradition in our family from way back in my grandmother's time. The icing recipe makes more than mine, and I think I'll like it better. Delicious, Enjpy!

Recipe of Senator Thompson's Mother

Ingredients
White Cake
1/2 cup of vegetable shortening
1-1/4 cups of granulated sugar
2 cups sifted cake flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
3 egg whites
1 fresh grated coconut and its milk

Cream the shortening and sugar together until fluffy. Sift flour, baking
powder, and salt together 3 times. Then alternating with milk, add flour
mixture to sugar mixture, a small amount at a time, beating after each time
until smooth. Add vanilla extract. Beat egg whites until they form stiff
peaks. Stir into batter. Bake in 2 greased and floured 8 inch or 9 inch
cake pans at 350ƒF for 30 minutes or until done. Let cool. Dribble coconut
milk over each layer before frosting with Fluffy White Frosting.

* You found this recipe on 1st Traveler's Choice Internet Cookbook.
(www.virtualcities.com)

The Honorable Fred Thompson
U.S. Senator, Tennessee

Fluffy White Frosting

Ingredients
1-2/3 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup of water
1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar
1/2 cup of egg whites (3 eggs)

Combine sugar, water and cream of tartar. Stir over low heat until sugar
has dissolved. Then boil without stirring until syrup threads from spoon.
Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Now add syrup mixture to egg whites
gradually, beating all the time until cool enough to spread. Frost top and
sides of cake. Then, sprinkle with coconut to top and sides of cake.