Spice Cake

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 and 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. ginger
* I usually use a bit more of the above spices, to taste.
1/4 cup butter or margerine, softened
1/4 cup shortening
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 and 1/4 cups buttermilk or sour milk
*I use a buttermilk substitute: mix a bit more than 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice with enough milk to make 1 and 1/4 cups. Let sit five minutes.

1. Grease a 13"X 9" X 2" pan. Stir together flour, baking powder, baking, soda, and spices. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and shortening on medium to high speed until blended. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until well combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Add dry mixture and buttermilk alternately to beaten mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just till combined. Pour into pan.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or till a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool.
Makes 12 servings.
*If you use this for the pumpkin trifle found above, you will have leftover cake to munch on, which can only be a good thing.