Ukrainian Poppy Seed Cake

Ingredients

Ukrainian POPPY SEED CAKE:

A popular modern version of an old-time poppy seed torte. Soak the poppy seeds overnight. This is a fine-textured and light cake.

3/4 cup poppy seed
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups sifted cake and pastry flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 egg whites

Instructions

Pour boiling water over the poppy seed and drain well over a fine sieve. Cover poppy seed with 3/4 cup of milk and soak overnight. Cream the butter; add the sugar gradually and beat until light. Stir in the vanilla and poppy seed DO NOT drain seeds from the milk; beat well. Sift the flour with the dry ingredients 3 times. Add the flour gradually to the first mixture, stirring until well blended. Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into the batter. Spoon into a greased 9 inch deep cake pan. Bake in a moderate over 350 degrees F. for about 30 minutes, or until done when tested. Remove from the pan and place on a cake rack. Ice with a favorite chocolate icing.