Strawberry Layer Cake

A delicious recipe that I found on My Recipes and altered slightly:

Cake--
1 1/4 cups sliced strawberries
2 1/4 cups flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
1 cup buttermilk (or 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup sour cream)
1/4 teaspoon red food coloring
 Vegetable shortening or Cooking spray

Frosting--
2/3 cup (3 ounces) cream cheese
2/3 cup butter, softened
4 tablespoons orange juice
6 cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. To prepare cake, place sliced strawberries in a food processor; process until smooth.
3. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt, stirring with a whisk. Place granulated sugar and 1/2 cup butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in egg whites. Add flour mixture and buttermilk (or substitute with milk and sour cream) alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Add pureed strawberries and food coloring; beat just until blended.
4. Divide batter between 2 (8-inch) round cake pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.
5. To prepare frosting, place cream cheese, 2/3 cup butter, and orange juice in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, and beat just until blended.
6. Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread with frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread a thin layer of frosting over top and sides of cake, freeze for 5-10 minutes.  Remove from freezer and spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake.  Garnish cake with strawberry halves, if desired.

Bon appetit!