UKRAINIAN SPRING CAKE VESNIANY TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Butter and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
• MAKE THE CAKE: Sift the flour with the baking powder and set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until frothy; gradually add the sugar and beat until stiff and meringuelike.
• In a small bowl, beat the yolks until frothy; fold the yolks and flour into the egg whites just until incorporated.
• Divide the batter evenly between the pans.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until the centers spring bake when touched.
• Cool in the pans on a wire rack (centres of the cakes may sink slightly).
• TO PREPARE THE CUSTARD FILLING, in a small nonreactive saucepan, mix the egg yolks, butter, cornstarch, half and half, and sugar.
• Cook, stirring, over medium heat until the mixture is smooth and thick.
• Remove from the heat, cover, and COOL.
• Stir in the vanilla.
• TO ASSEMBLE THE CAKE, cut the layers horizontally, making 4 layers in all.
• Place the bottom layer on a cake plate and spread with half the custard.
• Top with the next layer.
• Spread with the jam.
• Reserve a few of the nicest strawberries for garnish on top of the cake, then slice the remainder and arrange on top of the jam layer.
• Top with a third layer of cake.
• Spread with the remaining custard.
• Top with the remaining layer of cake.
• No more than 1 hour before serving, make the topping.
• Whip the cream and flavour with the confectioners' sugar and vanilla.
• Pile whipped cream on top of the cake and garnish with the reserved berries.
• Makes about 16 servings.