Anniversary Cake (36 years)

MRS. DOWELL'S ITALIAN CREAM CAKE

5 lg. eggs 1/2 c. butter 1/2 c. vegetable shortening 2 c. granulated sugar 1 tsp. baking soda 1 c. buttermilk 2 c. all-purpose flour, sifted 2 times 1 c. coconut 1/2 tsp. salt 1 c. chopped walnuts 1 tsp. Watkins vanilla extract or white vanilla flavor 1 tsp. Watkins coconut flavor Cream Cheese Icing (recipe follows) Separate eggs and beat whites until stiff. Set aside. Cream butter, shortening and sugar. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Dissolve soda in buttermilk; add alternately with flour. Beat well. Add coconut, nuts and extracts. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites.Pour into 3 greased and floured 9 inch cake pans, using 2 cups batter for each pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 minutes. Cool cake completely, then frost. Makes one cake, 16 to 20 servings. CREAM CHEESE ICING: 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened 1/2 c. butter 1 box (1 lb.) powdered sugar (3 1/2 c.) 1 tsp. Watkins almond extract Yep, today's the day.  I make this cake every year for our anniversary.  When Randy and I were engaged, we spent some fun times taste testing cake for our reception.  It had to be perfect. We ended up in the front room of a woman's house and she served us this cake.    There were no more questions.  I didn't even care what it looked like after that.  I just knew we needed the cake!  I can't say I've ever needed cake, but this was a winner.  Randy is a winner, too.  Talk to about needs; when you find it, you know it.  He's the one for me.  The outside isn't as important as the inside, though he cleans up extremely well    Like this cake, I just knew I needed him.  Always have.  Always will.  With Love!