Aunt Neet's Famous Pound Cake

Pound Cake
1 stick margarine (softened)
1 stick butter (softened)
1/2 cup Crisco
3 cups sugar
6 large eggs
3 cups cake flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. vanilla flavoring
1 1/8 cup canned milk

**Don't be too freaked out when you see all the butter, shortening, and eggs here. This is a huge cake!

Strawberry Topping
2 lbs. strawberries
1/4 cup sugar (or to taste)

Almond Whipped Cream
2 cups whipping cream
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. almond extract (to taste)

1. Cream margarine, butter, Crisco, and sugar with mixer on high. Beat for a long time...seriously, longer than you think. Wait until the texture becomes really fluffy and creamy. 2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating all the while. Beat together for a long time again, waiting before adding each egg.
3. In a separate bowl, mix all the dry ingredients with a whisk. Turn mixer to low. Alternating, add the dry mixer and milk.
4. Add vanilla flavoring.
5. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
6. Pulse 1 lb. of strawberries and sugar in food processor to desired consistency. Slice the other 1 lb. and combine.
7. Whip cream, sugar, and flavoring together until soft peaks form.

This recipe is from my great-aunt Neet who is a truly fabulous cook. Basically everything she touches in the kitchen turns to gold. This recipe is for her famous pound cake which is renowned in our family for its perfection. It's true that it is not the healthiest cake ever, but who is eating cake for the nutrition factor, really? Plus, I'm a big believer in portion control and that you should treat yourself when you can. Trust me, this cake is definitely a treat! It has a light, fluffy, moist texture, but it is also dense and full of buttery goodness.

I have added some strawberries and almond whipped cream to spice it up a bit for my mom's birthday, but it's quite good on its own, too.

WARNING: A good stand mixer is a requirement for this cake. It just won't come out right without it. My aunt has been telling me this for years and I just got a Kitchen Aid mixer for Christmas (thanks Peter!). I had been wanting a good mixer forever, mostly so I could try and master this cake. This was the first thing I made with it. Like everything, it takes some practice. I'm not quite up to par with Aunt Neet...