Aunt Ellen’s Man’s Cake

• 3/4 cup solid vegetable shortening
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 6 eggs, separated
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 4-1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups very strong coffee, cold
• 1-1/2 cups chopped walnuts or pecans
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 F. Add cream of tartar to egg whites and beat until stiff but not dry. In another bowl, blend egg yolks, shortening, and sugar thoroughly. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with coffee. Add nuts and vanilla.

Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites.

Bake in a greased angel food cake tube pan for 45 minutes or until a bamboo skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Frost with a thin layer of powdered sugar icing, or simply leave plain.