Basic Cake Recipe

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 cups sifted self-rising flour
1 cup milk

Grease and flour 3 - 9 inch cake pans.  Use your electric mixer to cream the butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to mix well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time . Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed. Using a mixing cup, pour equal amounts of batter into each prepared pan and then drop it flat onto the counter to level the batter.  (Now, don't hold pan up to your face and drop or you will have batter on you and the ceiling, just lift about 3 inches from counter and drop pan easily).  Do this several times to release the air bubbles.  Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until done. Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks. Cool completely and spread cake layers with your favorite frosting to make a 3-layer cake.