Butter Cake

As the old saying goes, "Variety is the spice of life." I don't know if this is normal, but I don't really like to bake the same things over and over again. I mean I know of people who have an amazing signature dish, but that's all that they ever cook, most of the time. I like to experiment with different combinations and create new dishes every time I bake. But that's not possible when the people around you, like my family, are pretty resistant to change. 

I love change. I embrace it wholeheartedly. But to my sisters? Change is like a gross dish served to them at dinner that they're forced to eat. Honest. They like to dine at the same places, eat the same types of food, and have me bake the same types of cakes, brownies, blondies etc. 

Of course, there are downsides to having too much or too little change. Baking a new dish every time means I don't learn to improve on past dishes that show promise, baking the same dish leads to boredom(at least for me). And while I was so tempted to tweak the recipe and add different flavours or spices to the cake, I held back. Some things are meant to stay the same. 

Butter Cake, adapted from MrsNgSK as seen on Wendyinkk

Ingredients:

230g unsalted butter 

200g eggs (4 grade eggs), separated
40g + 120g sugar
200g all purpose flour, sifted
60ml milk
1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped 

Method:
1. Preheat oven at 170C. Grease an 8 inch square pan. 
2. Separate the eggs, and place the whites into a medium sized bowl. Beat egg whites until soft peaks, gradually add 40gm sugar and beat until stiff. Set aside.
3. Cream butter and 120gm sugar until pale and fluffy. Put in vanilla seeds and and beat for a while. Put in egg yolks one by one and beat well after each addition.
4. Put in half the flour and mix on low speed until incorporated. Put in milk in 2 additions and mix until well incorporated. Mix in remaining flour.5. Put half the egg whites in and mix on low speed. Fold in the balance of egg whites.6. Pour batter into pan and level.7. Bake for 45 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.