Pound Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350°. Butter and flour a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan and set out all ingredients so they reach room temperature. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Separate the egg yolks from the whites and set the whites aside. Beat the yolks and add to the mixture. Blend until lemon-colored. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add to the above, mixing until thoroughly blended. Beat in the milk and vanilla. In a separate bowl, beat the whites with cream of tartar until they hold soft peaks. Fold gently into the cake batter. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour. The edges of the cake should begin to pull away from the sides of the pan when done. Cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Loosen the sides with a knife and invert onto the rack to finish cooling. Serve with fruit or dust with powdered sugar.