• Combine and soak for 2 hours:
  • 2/3 cup poppy seeds
  • 3/4 cup milk
• Beat until soft:
  • 2/3 cup butter (first allow butter to warm to room temp.)
• Add gradually:
  • 1 1/2 cup sugar
• Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
• Sift together:
  • 2 cups sifted cake flour
  • 2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
• Combine the soaked poppy seeds with
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
• Add the sifted ingredients to the butter mixture in about 3 parts, alternating with the liquid ingredients: beat the batter after each addition until blended.
• Whip until stiff, but not dry: 4 egg whites
• Fold into batter. Pour batter into two 9 - inch round layer pans and bake for 20 minutes at 375F or pour into a bundt pan and bake for 40 minutes.
• Dust with powdered sugar.

Frequently Used Substitutions and Equivalents

1/4 pound butter --------------------------------------- 1/2 cup
1 ounce baking chocolate (unsweetened) ----------------- 1 square
1 cup fresh egg whites --------------------------------- 8 - 10 whites
1 cup fresh egg yolks ---------------------------------- 12 - 14 yolks
1 cup fresh whole egg ---------------------------------- 5 - 6 eggs
1 ounce salt ------------------------------------------- 2 1/8 teaspoons
1 lb --------------------------------------------------- 2 3/8 cups
1/2 pint coffee cream ---------------------------------- serves 8 for coffee
1/2 pint whipping cream -------------------------------- makes 2 cups whipped
1 cup evaporated milk ---------------------------------- makes 3 cups whipped
1 quart skimmed milk ----------------------------------- 3/4 cups powdered milk
                                                         plus 4 cups water
1 quart whole milk ------------------------------------- 2 cups evaporated milk
                                                         plus 2 cups water
8 - 10 graham crackers --------------------------------- 1 cup crumbs
4 ounces bread ----------------------------------------- 3 cups soft crumbs
1 cup all-purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons ------------ 1 cup cake flour
                                                (both sifted before measuring)
1/4 cup cocoa plus 1 1/2 - 2 teaspoons shortening ------ 1 ounce unsweetened
                                                         chocolate
1 cup vegetable shortening plus 1/2 teaspoon salt ------ 1 cup butter (approx)
1 cup sweet milk --------------------------------------- 1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup evaporated milk and 1/2 cup water
        plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar ------- 1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon cornstarch -------------------------------- 2 tablespoons flour
                                                         (for thickening)

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