Steps

1. Preheat oven to 350 °F. Grease two 8-inch cake pans.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Cream butter and all but 2 tbs of the sugar together until light. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla.
4. Add the flour mixture and milk alternately in three stages. Beat until smooth.
5. Beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry, adding the remaining 2 tbs sugar when they are foamy.
6. Stir 1/3 of the egg whites into the batter, then fold in the rest.
7. Spread in the cake pans. Bake 30 - 35 minutes.
8. Cool 10 minutes in pan, then remove onto a wire rack.