Preheat oven 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Grease three 9 inch cake pan. Or 3 heated greased cast iron skillets.
Mix the flour, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt.
Cream the butter, vanilla bean, vanilla extract, and sugar.
Beat the eggs and milk and set aside.
Mix all the ingredients incorporate very well.
In the 3 pans add a laddle full of the batter, one at a time to make equal amounts till all the batter is used equally.
Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes till done
Let cool completely.
Take 1-1/2 quarts fresh strawberries and add to a pot bring to a simmer mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1/4 cup water.
Add cornstarch solution to the simmering strawberries. Stir till thickened.
Let cool a bit. After it's cool to touch without being too hot, spread the strawberry mix over the bottom and the middle layers of cake. Just enough to cover the upper part of each layer.
Stack the middle on the bottom. Add the top layer.
Mix the 1/4 cup milk, 2 tablespoons butter, powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, mix till fluffy.
Make a ring around the top edge of the top layer of cake with the icing and let it drip.
Add the rest of the strawberries to the top layer within the ring around the top edge. Allow to drip over the edges.
Serve I hope you enjoy!
