BLACK WALNUT CAKE

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
2 cups sugar
5 eggs yolks
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 (3-ounce) can flaked coconut
2 cups chopped black walnuts, divided
5 egg whites, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)

Preparation

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and shortening; gradually add sugar, beating until sugar dissolves and mixture is light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, beating well. In a small bowl, combine buttermilk and soda; stir until soda dissolves. Add flour alternately with buttermilk to butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Stir in vanilla. Add coconut and 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts, blending well. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form. Folks egg whites into batter. Pour batter into three greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until layers test done. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely. Frost between layers and on tops and sides with Cream Cheese Frosting. Sprinkle remaining chopped black walnuts on top of frosted cake.