Yum Peaceful Cooking: Old-Fashioned Pound Cake. Even by 1948's Standards

Monday, July 19, 2010

Old-Fashioned Pound Cake. Even by 1948's Standards


When you get a flat of strawberries, fresh from the grower, who happens to be an award winning local grower...what do you do?

First, you thank your co-worker who happens to be related to said award winning strawberry grower. Then you wash off a strawberry and pop it into your mouth.

And you wonder and bask in it's incredible flavor! If I didn't know better, I'd have sworn these strawberries were soaked in sugar, they are that sweet! OH MY Gaaaawd!

I already have a ton of jam in my freezer. Strawberry season is quickly coming to an end (so sad)...and I know that I cannot, no matter how good these babies are....consume over 8 lbs of strawberries before they start to turn.

Freezing them is the next best thing. Just so you know...this is ONE HUGE bowl! It's one of those tupperware super duper sized bowls with the little handle for your thumb on the side (not shown in picture...sorry).


They do need some prep work though. I mean, I don't plan on freezing the green tops. This could take some time....ya know?

Never fear....I have a wonderful little gadget that was given to me by a close friend. She's actually one of my favorite people to cook with. We just mesh so well together in the kitchen. And she's a wonderful cook.

I have discovered that I cannot whip cream without her guidance. It just doesn't work (as seen in the top photo). Anyways....she gave me this fun little kitchen toy that quickly and easily removes those little green stems from strawberries.


And it works wonderfully

You insert, twist and remove




Then you push the end and release



In less than 15 minutes, I had completely de-stemmed 8 lbs of strawberries


Most of which ended up in freezer bags, while some were saved for one of my favorite summer desserts....

Poundcake, topped with strawberries and whipped cream. It's one of those desserts that I have been enjoying for as long as I can remember. Only, never homemade. Always store bought.

I have this really old cookbook, "The American Woman's Cookbook"



My mom gave to me back when I was 19 (the book was really old then too...I swear!!). The book was originally published in 1938. Mine was published in 1948.

I found a recipe for poundcake. Old-Fashioned Poundcake to be exact. Made me wonder how old-fashioned it could be back in 1948?! Well, apparently poundcake first came around in the early 1700's. So I s'pose a 60  yr old recipe can still refer to it as old-fashioned.



Old-Fashioned Poundcake
Printable Version

1 lb butter
1 lb sifted cake flour
10 eggs, separated
1 lb sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 325' F

Cream the butter. Work in the flour until mixture is mealy.



In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks, sugar and vanilla until thick in fluffy.



Add butter mixture to the egg mixture gradually, beating thoroughly. In another bowl, beat egg whites until stiff. Fold egg whites into butter mixture. Beat vigorously 5 minutes.


Prepare 2 loaf pans by lining them with parchment paper. Bake for 1 1/4 hours.


And there you have it....2 loaves of pound cake. One to eat, and one to share.

What's your favorite way to eat a fresh slice of pound cake?


This is my entry in this weeks Blog Hop Carnival, Real Food for Two for Tuesday. 



Head on over to Girlichef.blogspot.com so see what else is happening in the Blog Hop




22 comments:

  1. Oh looks yummy!
    That strawberry gadget is very cool!

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  2. I haven't had pound cake in way too long because that just looks. Wow.

    And aren't fresh strawberries AMAZING! Way better than the ones that are shipped form 6,000 miles away!

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  3. I have always wanted one of the original true-blue pound cake recipes and have just now found it! Saw u on Two for Tuesdays. You took fantastic photos, and I was wondering about that hulling gadget and now I know!!!! Thanks, Roz @ La Bella Vita

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  4. Okay, another weakness of mine...lifelong weakness. Poundcake. When I was a wee girl growing up in a land called Michigan, I wanted pound cake ALL THE TIME! LOL, no seriously, I totally did. I love it!! And this is the honest to goodness real thing...paired with the berries, I know I need to get my bootie to So. Cal. Pronto! Thanks so much for sharing w/ Two for Tuesdays Dani...totally bookmarked ;)

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  5. WOW!!!! The richness of this poundcake must be amazing! When my hens start laying I am going to have to make this. Thanks for linking to Two for Tuesdays!

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  6. The strawberries look gorgeous and the pound cake sounds rich and delicious! Love those old recipes and funny with the 1948!

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  7. I love pound cake but don't think I've ever made it before....odd considering that I love to bake. Will definitely be copying this recipe to make.

    By the way...I have one of those Tupperware bowls so know how big they are.....would love to have received that bowl full of strawberries. I bought one of those hullers and they do a great job.

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  8. I love a good pound cake. What a neat little gadget. I don't think I have ever seen one of those before. I'd love to have one. Do you know who the maker is?

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  9. I LOVE pound cake, but so often the recipes I've seen for it call for baking powder (which I have a bad reaction to and can't use). You just totally made my day with this recipe considering that it doesn't have baking powder in it! YAY! Thank you so much for bringing this recipe to our Two for Tuesday blog hop! I'm so glad that you did and will definitely be trying it soon. Oh, and I love the little strawberry gadget - so fun! And it would save so much effort!

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  10. Am I required to share the second loaf? ;)

    Thank you for bringing this recipe to T4T and making me drool all over my shirt.

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  11. First of all, I love that strawberry tool and I have to have one! Your pound cake with strawberries looks heavenly! What I wouldn't give for a slice (or two) or that right now:)

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  12. Oh, those strawberries are just perfect! Now on top of the tortilla press, I'm going to have to get one of these strawberry leaf pullers LOL I thought I had every kitchen gadget, but I guess not! The pound cake looks so soft and moist. I'm going to make it.

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  13. Danielle! you JUST unlocked a family secret from my sister-in-law's side! She makes old fashioned pound cake soaked in rum. She would never give me the recipe! But now she doesnt have to because I am SO making this for thanksgiving desert! thanks for sharing the old fashioned tried and true real food love on the two for tuesday recipe blog hop! :) alex@amoderatelife

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  14. Oh how I love old cookbooks like this one. How fun! Your pound cake looks perfect. I think pound cake is yummy with or without fruit.

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  15. That looks so amazing!!! Pound Cake is Tawny's favorite cake. I might have to give this a try!

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  16. I love that strawberry tool! What a fabulous recipe! Thanks for linking to Two for Tuesdays :D

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  17. I love pound cake with strawberries, peaches, blueberries etc. This is the perfect time of year to make pound cake with all these fresh fruits available. Your strawberries looked amazing. Sometimes when I make a pound cake I substitute a teaspoon of almond extract for the vanilla.

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  18. That is a Mighty FINE looking Pound cake. YUM!

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  19. I want that strawberry shortcake and that neat tool for cleaning them. Where can you find one of those?

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  20. Now I really want some strawberries! That sounds amazing and I must admit I only like strawberries if they are super sweet. So I must say I would love some sweet strawberries and I love the old book. I have a thing for old books and cook books so well that is just awesome!!

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  21. For all of you who asked about the Strawberry Huller, the mfg is Oxo, Good Grips. They have a facebook page (2 actually) and a website oxo.com
    Now I feel compelled to end this comment with a few x's and o's LOL

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  22. Oh.... I HAVE to try this pound cake recipe. Looks too good to pass up... Thanks for sharing :)

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