Vikki sponge cake

I named my vanilla sponge with clotted cream and strawberry jam filling after my little sister, firstly because she has spent most of her life having to tell people her name isnt victoria its vikki, secondly because she is one of the most inspirational people I know! And thirdly because she is beautiful much like this cake! (even if I do say so myself!) So little sis this one is named in honour of you!

Start with my basic sponge recipe of equal amounts butter, caster sugar and flour and 4 eggs per 8oz of flour, (depending on egg size) this is based on medium eggs.

For this size cake I used 1lb of each or equvialent conversion (im old fashioned)
And I used half a dozen large eggs.

Cream together the butter and sugar, I mean really give it some welly, the aim here is to get the butter and sugar to lighten in colour and become light and fluffy as we beat air into it, add some good vanilla extract, dont use essence its all chemicals!!! Or use vanilla bean paste, 2 tsps of either one is fine. Mix it into the butter/ sugar mixture. Add your eggs and a tablespoon of the flour, the flour at this stage stops the mixture splitting. Add the remaining flour and a quarter cup of milk and mix well. Dont be tempted to over mix though because this will aggitate the gluten in the flour and your cake will be all spring no sponge! No one wants a cake to twang!
Seperate the mixture between two prepared sandwich tins and bake on gas mark 5 for approx 30 mins, depending on your oven, check with a skewer if it comes out of the middle of the cakr clean its done, if not pop it back for 5 mins and check again, keep doing this until you are satisfied that your cake is cooked.
Leave to cool in the tins for 15 mins then turn out onto cooling racks, allow to cool thoroughly, turn one cake upside down on a serving plate and slather in jam and clotted cream (devon or cornwall your choice) pop the top on, sift over with icing sugar for no reason other than it looks pretty, top with strawberries and serve!!

Try to save some for others though ;) x