Aunt Kanna's Burnt Sugar Cake

This recipe is one of Aunt Kanna's most famous. At every family reunion, people look forward to having a piece of this cake...

1/2 cup	butter
2	beaten egg whites
1 cup	sweet milk
2 cups	flour
1 cup	sugar
2 teaspoons	baking powder
1 teaspoon	vanilla extract
"enough"	burnt sugar to make it the color you want

Mix together the shortening, egg whites and milk. Sift the flour, sugar and baking poweder together, and then add slowly to the mixture of shortening, egg whites and milk. Add the vanilla and the burnt sugar (see below). Beat the mixture for 7 minutes, then place in an 8 x 13 cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes, or until cake tests as done. Top with Aunt Kanna's Burnt Sugar Candy.

Watch the baking time closely; start watching at 25 - 30 minutes.

Burnt sugar: Melt 1/2 cup white sugar in heavy skillet over low heat until dark brown & smooth. Remove from heat; add 1/2 cup boiling water; return to heat and stir rapidly until molasses-like syrup results.