2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350*F (see notes). Grease and flour two 8 inch x 2 inch baking pans and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

Add butter, milk, and vanilla. With a hand mixer, beat for 2 minutes, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl.

Add eggs and beat for 2 minutes more.

Pour batter into prepared pans, dividing equally between the pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven.

Cool in the pans for 10 minutes and then turn cakes out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.

Frost with your favorite frosting. (See Hershey's Chocolate Frosting recipe on Hambones).

Stacy's Notes: Made October 2016 for my birthday. Followed recipe exactly even though I thought it was a little long to bake the batter. I should have stuck with my instincts! I think my oven may be convection, so next time be sure to lower temp to 325 and NOT 350. Also, start checking at 22 minutes or so. Mine was overcooked and very dry. It was also really flat, not sure why it didn't rise. My baking powder was not out of date (although a little clumpy, probably from the humidity). I also used 2% milk instead of whole, but I doubt that made a difference. I baked on the lower rack in my oven, so maybe try the upper rack next time or move the lower one up a bit. Tim liked it though, and said I could make again for his birthday :)