Pound Cake

When you want something sweet but some thing non fussy, go for an easy cake recipe. Pound cake is named for a traditional recipe that includes a pound each of flour, butter, eggs, and sugar -- but worry not, because not all  recipes call for a pound of butter. You can chose from the classic original to flavors such as lemon, blueberry, chocolate chip, and more.
Light on effort, heavy on flavor, pound cake has earned its centuries-long popularity. And as Christmas is around sing Merry Christmas and make a delightful cake for your family

Ingredients:

* 1 pound (3 1/4 cups) all-purpose flour
* 1 tablespoon coarse salt
* 4 sticks softened unsalted butter, plus more for pans
* 2 cups sugar
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 9 large, room-temperature eggs

Method :
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter two 5-by-9-inch loaf pans. Combine all-purpose flour and salt in a bowl.
2. Cream butter and sugar with a mixer on high speed until pale and fluffy, for 8 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl. Reduce speed to medium, and add vanilla extract.
3. Lightly beat eggs, and add to mixer bowl in 4 additions, mixing thoroughly after each and scraping down sides. Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture in
4.  additions, mixing until just incorporated. Divide batter between pans. Tap on counter to distribute; smooth tops
5.  Bake until a tester inserted into center of each cake comes out clean, about 65 minutes. Let cool in pans on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire rack.

--pushpa