Favorite basic cake recipe

[margieslocal]

I'm looking for a recipe/baking book/author for a great, basic yellow or white cake to use as a base for experimentation. Something that has good density and tenderness - not too light.

[Weiszguy]

Here's a link to a recipe I got here: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/32264...
Far and away the best yellow cake I have ever made. I actually made it twice (kids' birthdays are one month apart) and underbaked it a teeny bit the first time, which made for a better cake. Enjoy!

[lissar]

Laurie Colwin's basic genoise, paraphrased:

Cream half a cup of butter and half a cup of sugar together. Beat in two eggs. Get everything fluffy, and then fold in a cup of flour, and add a capful of vanilla. You can add a half teaspoon of baking powder if you like.

Bake at 350F for twenty minutes.

A buttery basic cake.

[chowser]

I like the Best Recipe's recipes for both white and yellow cake. I can post either if you'd like.