Thunder Cake

Ingredients

• 1 C shortening (or substitute with butter)
• 1¾ C sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 eggs, separated
• 1 C cold water
• 80 g pureed tomatoes
• 2½ C cake flour
• ½ C cocoa powder
• 1½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 8½" round cake pans.
2. Cream together shortening and sugar. Beat in vanilla and egg yolks.
3. Mix in cold water and pureed tomatoes.
4. Beat egg whites until stiff and fold them into the batter.
5. Sift together cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
6. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
7. Pour batter evenly into the cake pans and bake for 35 - 40 minutes.
8. Let cakes cool on wire racks before frosting with chocolate buttercream frosting