Angel Food Cake

1 C cake flour
1 1/2 C powdered sugar
12 egg whites (1 1/2 C)
1 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 tsp salt
1 C sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Make sure you use a very clean bowl, utensils & tube pan. Any oil will keep the cake from raising properly. Stir together flour & first amount of sugar;(powdered sugar) set aside.

In large mixer bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar & salt until foamy. Add 2nd amount of sugar, 2 Tbsp at a time (or pour from the cup very slowly), beating on high speed until meringue holds stiff peaks. Gently fold in flavorings.( set mixer on lowest speed for folding) Sprinkle flour-sugar mixture, 1/4 C at a time over meringue, folding in gently just until flour-sugar mixture disappears. Push batter into ungreased tube pan. 10x4 inches. Gently cut through batter. (use a table knife to go through the mixture a few times, helps get rid of air bubbles.)

Bake 30-35 minutes or until top springs back when touched lightly with finger.( will depend a lot on the oven, right now I bake for 28 minutes. I don't want the top burnt or actually what will be the bottom, it won't be seen, but will be able to taste it) Turn pan upside down on glass pop bottle or funnel: ( I just turn it on a cooling rack if the top isn't too high & I would squash it) Leave it this way until completely cool. To get it out, take the table knife & run it round the side of the pan, put a plate over the cake & with one quick motion, turn it over & the cake will come out. The tube part of the pan will still be in the cake, again using the table knife, run it around the bottom (wide part) turning the cake as you go, do quickly so it doesn't break apart on you. Once the flat part is separated from the cake, the tube piece lets go.

This cake sounds more complicated than it really is. Again it just takes practice. I think I told you about my first experience with angel food cakes. I started out using a boxed mix & worked my way up to this recipe, anyway, I don't know what I did wrong, but that cake came out about an inch high & was like rubber. A big wheel.

VARIATIONS
Cherry Angel Food Before pushing the batter into the pan, fold in 1/2 C maraschino cherries, well drained. ( I usually blot them on a paper towel) (Mountain frosting with cherry juice is pretty. Put a few pieces of the cherries on top.

Coconut angel food; before pushing batter into pan, fold in 1 C shredded coconut, 1/2 at a time. The white mountain frosting would be good & sprinkle with a little of the coconut.

Server with or without frosting.
I like to server with peanut butter.