Gran'ma Wood's Caramel Spice Nut Cake

Cake:

1 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

3 eggs, separated

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon soda

¼ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup sour milk

¾ cup walnuts

Cream shortening and sugar.  Beat egg yolks and add to creamed mixture.  Beat thoroughly till well mixed. Stir in vanilla.  Sift flour, measure and sift together with other dry ingredients.  Add alternately with milk to creamed mixture.  Beating till smooth after each addition.  Whip egg whites till stiff but not dry.  Add to batter along with nuts.  Turn into two 8-inch pans that are well greased.  Make in moderately hot oven (375° high altitude or 350° sea level) 25 minutes.  Let cool, then spread with caramel frosting.

Caramel Frosting

2 cups sugar

6 Tablespoons caramelized sugar

2 egg whites

2/3 cup water

¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Place sugar, water and cream of tartar in saucepan. Bring to boil; add caramelized sugar.  Cook to 242° or soft ball.  Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry.  Add vanilla.  Pour syrup slowly over beaten egg whites while beating till frosting will stand in stiff peaks and is of consistency to spread.  Spread on cake fast.