1/4 c  Shortening                          2 c  Sifted cake flour
     2 c  Sugar                               2 ts Baking powder
     2    Eggs; separated                     1 ts Salt
 1 1/2 c  Milk                                1 ts Vanilla
     4 oz Unsweetened chocolate               1 c  Chopped nuts
          – melted                      
SEA FOAM FROSTING
   3/4 c  Sugar                               3    Egg whites
   3/4 c  Brown sugar, packed                 1 oz Semisweet chocolate (opt.)
   1/3 c  Hot water                         1/4 ts Butter (optional)
   1/2 ts Cream of tartar                
 Cream shortening, 1 1/2 cups sugar and egg yolks until light. Add a
 few drops of milk if needed to cream sugar. Add chocolate and blend
 thoroughly. Sift flour with baking powder and salt. Add dry
 ingredients alternately with milk to chocolate mixture, blending well
 after each addition. Stir in vanilla and chopped nuts. Beat 2 egg
 whites until frothy. Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, beating
 until whites are stiff. Fold into batter. Turn into 2 greased and
 floured 9-inch layer cake pans. Bake at 350F 30 to 40 minutes, or
 until cake springs back when lightly touched with finger in center of
 cake. Cool slightly then remove layers from pans and cool completely
 on wire rack.
 To make frosting, combine 3/4 cup sugar and brown sugar in heavy
 saucepan. Add hot water and cream of tartar and stir to blend. Cover
 pan and slowly bring to simmer. Uncover pan and cook until syrup
 spins long thin thread. Remove from heat. Beat 3 egg whites until
 stiff. When syrup stops bubbling, pour over beaten whites in thin
 stream, beating constantly until fluffy. Use to frost cooled layers.
 If desired, melt 1 ounce semisweet chocolate with 1/4 teaspoon butter
 and drizzle over frosting. Carefully swirl it over frosting with a
 thin spatula to give marbled effect.
                
                 Yields       
                12 servings                
