Aunt Mary's Italian Cream Cake

This is a fantastic cake. I got the recipe from a great-aunt who can cook absolutly ANYTHING. It is not terribly sweet, butI have never heard any complaints!

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Yields: 1 3 layer cake

Ingredients

• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  cup buttermilk
• 5  eggs, seperated
• 2  cups sugar
• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 1⁄2 cup shortening
• 2  cups flour, sifted
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1  cup pecans, chopped
• 4  ounces coconut

Directions

1. Combined baking soda and buttermilk and let stand for a few minutes.
2. Cream sugar, butter, and shortening.
3. Add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Add buttermilk mixture and flour alternately until combined.
5. Stir in vanilla.
6. Beat egg whites until stiff.
7. Fold stiff egg whites into batter along with coconut and pecans.
8. Evenly divide mixture between 3 well greased and floured, 9 inch pans.
9. Bake at 325 for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out cleanly.
10. Top each layer with 'Aunt Mary's Cream Cheese Frosting' and sprinkle on pecans.