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["For the CAKE:", "Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.", "Cream the butter and sugar until the mixture with a mixer until it turns a light shade of yellow. Next add the condensed milk and beat well.", "Add the flour, baking soda, and salt in 5 parts and blend well. Add the eggs one at a time and blend. Add vanilla and blend.", "Grease and flour two 8"" round pans and pour the batter evenly amongst the two. The batter should be kind of thick, so you might have to use a spatula to smooth it out and make it even.", "Put it in the oven and bake for 45-55 minutes. Poke the center of the cake with a toothpick, and if it comes out clean, then it's done. Transfer the cake to a cooling rack and allow to sit until cool.", "While the cake is baking, make your simple RUM SYRUP:", "In a sauce pan, bring the water and rum to a boil. Add the sugar and vanilla and allow it to reduce until it resembles the consistency of corn syrup - just not quite as thick. Allow it to cool.", "Once the cake is done, cut each layer in half so you'll have a 4-layer cake. If you have a cake leveler this would be a good time to whip it out.", "Slice the cake loaves in half horizontally. Once you have the four pieces, take a pastry brush (I use silicone so the bristles won't stick to the cake, but any will work) and begin brushing the simple syrup over the layers. Allow it to soak through and repeat until the cake looks moist. Set aside.", "Now for the FROSTING:", "Beat the butter and shortening until smooth. Next begin to add the sugar one cup at a time. Beat well. Add the vanilla rum, vanilla extract and salt and continue to beat until smooth. Voila, your frosting is done.", "Place the bottom layer on your cake plate and spread frosting evenly on the top of the layer. Add a layer of cake, then frosting until you get to the top of the cake. Pile a generous amount on the top and begin to smooth over the edges and sides.", "Do a crumb coating and place in the fridge for about 15 minutes to allow it to set. Do the final coat and decorate as you wish. I am really an amateur, but you can smooth the sides with your cake spatula and add some kind of decorative border if you like."]
