This cake really lives up to its name! Even if you don't usually like Pink Cake, this delightful confection is truly a dream! Cherry Dream Cake comes from Cakes Men Like (out of print but try Powell's, about $5), which I'm pretty sure was given to me by my old roommate Kevin (Kev? Is that right?). But he didn't sign it, so I'm not positive. Note to gifters: always sign gift books. It's nice.

Pink Cake

2 cups sifted Cake Flour
1 1/4 cups Sugar
2 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 c. Shortening
3/4 cup Milk
1/2 tsp. Lemon extract
1 1/2 tsp. Almond Extract
3 Egg Whites, unbeaten
18 Maraschino Cherries, drained and diced VERY finely
(the key is to trick Maraschino cherry-haters like myself into trying the cake—you want cherry flavor, not that horrible waxy texture.) SAVE THE JUICE FOR THE FROSTING!

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into mixing bowl. Add shortening, milk, and extracts and beat 2 minutes, scraping bowl often. Add the egg whites and beat 3 minutes. Add cherries and blend. Pour into two greased and flowered baking pans and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Test it with a toothpick to make sure it's ready (If battery goo sticks to a wooden toothpick stuck into the center of the cake, keep baking).

Frost with delicious Cherry Fluff Frosting.

Cherry Fluff Frosting

2 Egg Whites, beaten
1 1/2 cups Sugar
5 tablespoons cold Maraschino Cherry Juice
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 tsp. Almond Extract
2 Marshmallows, cut into eighths
1 tsp. Light Corn Syrup (or 1/4 tsp. Cream of Tartar)

Put egg whites, sugar, cherry juice, corn syrup, and salt in the top of a double boiler and mix thoroughly. Place over rapidly boiling water and beat constantly with electric beater until mixture will hold a peak. Remove from hot water, add extracts and marshmallows and beat until cool and thick enough to spread. (If this is too much of a pain in the ass to make, then just beat the cherry juice into a thing of canned cream cheese frosting from your favorite grocery store. Decorating the top of the cake with cherry halves will more than make up for your laziness!)