Basic White Cake (with variations)

Once again, a recipe straight from Italy!

White Cake
2 Cups flour
1 (or 1 and 1/4) cup Sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
a pinch of salt
4 eggs beaten in to 1 cup water or milk
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients, mix well, and pour into a greased pan. Bake at 200 degrees celcius [NOTE: that's 392 degrees fahrenheit -- I'd put the oven at 375 and watch it closely!] for 1/2 to 1 hour.

Do NOT (DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT!!!!) open the oven until the cake has been in the oven for AT LEAST a full 30 minutes!!! If you do, your cake will sink down and will be as flat as a pancake!

VARIATIONS

Chocolate ~ add 1/2 cup coco to the batter

Fruit ~ Add 1/2 cup thinly sliced pears or apples and reduce the water a bit and substitute orange juice. Increase the baking time by a few minutes, as needed.

Angel Food ~ use 2 cups of sugar; add two or three additional eggs and reduce the water so that, all together, the water + eggs = 1 cup of liquid. Bake it at 170 degrees celcius (138 degrees fahrenheit -- I would use 135 and watch it closely)for 45 to 50 minutes.