Old-Fashioned Spice Cake

You really can't go wrong with this Betty Crocker recipe:

1 can (13 ounces) evaporated milk
4 teaspoons vinegar
2� cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup raisins, if desired
� cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup shortening
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
� teaspoon ground cinnamon
� teaspoon allspice
� teaspoon ground cloves
� teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 eggs
Caramel Frosting (click for recipe)

Mix 1 1/3 cups of the evaporated milk and the vinegar; reserve. (Reserve remaining evaporated milk for frosting.)

Heat oven to 350�. Grease and flour rectangular pan, 13 x 9 x 2 inches, or 2 round pans, 8 x 1� or 9 x 1� inches. Beat vinegar mixture and remaining ingredients except Caramel Frosting on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl occaisionally. Pour into pan(s).

Bake rectangle about 45 minutes, 8-inch rounds 40 to 45 minutes, 9-inch rounds 35 to 40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool rectangle on wire rack. Cool layers 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely on wire rack. Frost rectangle or fill and frost layers with Caramel Frosting. Sprinkle with chopped nuts or ground nutmeg, if desired. Store tightly covered.