Martha Pearl Villas' Pound Cake.

Martha Pearl's Pound Cake

1 pound (4 sticks) butter
1 pound (2 cups) sugar
9 large eggs
1 pound (4 cups) all-purpose flour
Dash salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Juice of 1 lemon

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, cream the butter with an electric mixer, then gradually add the sugar, continuing to beat until well creamed and smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually add the flour and salt, beating constantly. Add the vanilla and lemon juice and continue beating until well blended.

Grease and flour a 10-inch tube or bundt pan. Pour in the batter and ''spank'' the bottom of the pan to distribute the batter evenly. Bake until a straw inserted into the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes, taking care not to overcook. Turn cake out onto a rack and let cool.