Holiday Walnut Cake

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

2 eggs, separated

1 cup, plus 1 tbsp milk, divided

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

1 pound shelled walnuts, finely chopped

Several whole walnuts for garnish

1 tsp cream of tartar

1/4 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch tube pan.

Sift flour, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl. Combine butter, granulated sugar and egg yolks in a large mixing bow. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until creamy and smooth.

Reduce speed to low and gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with 1 cup milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Add extracts; beat well. Stir in walnuts.

Place egg whites in a small mixing bowl. Beat with a mixer at high speed until foamy. Add cream of tarter and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold egg white mixture into batter.

Pour batter into pan. Bake 65 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Invert onto a plate.

Combine powdered sugar with 1 tbsp milk in a small bowl and stir until sugar is dissolved. Drizzle evenly over warm cake. Garnish with the whole walnuts, if desired. Flavors improve overnight.