Basic cake mixture

125g butter, softened 125g caster sugar 125g self-raising flour 2 large eggs 2tbsp milk

Preheat oven to 180°c/gas 4. cream together the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy. add the flour, eggs and milk and beat until smooth. Pour the mixture into a greased and lined 20cm sandwich tin and level it out. Bake the cake for 25-35 mins or until it has risen and is just firm to the touch in the centre. Remove the cake from the oven. leave it to cool in the tin for 5-10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.