Peter Brant’s Pound Cake

“This pound cake recipe is sinfully delicious, and I can only assume extremely fattening (warning to all you diet divas out there). We have it every Thanksgiving– Harry, my mother and I usually eat all of it because it is addictive. Literally. You will never try a better homemade cake but the secret ingredient I left out is a pinch of love (I’m allowed to be cheesy because it’s Thanksgiving). My one Thanksgiving tip for those of you entertaining is that it is extremely beneficial to have music playing while the dinner is served, having extended family all at one table often leads to the most painful awkward silences.”

What you’ll need:
1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
1⁄4 tsp. baking soda
1⁄4 tsp. salt
(1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter,
1 cup sugar
1 1⁄2 tsp. vanilla extract
1⁄4 tsp. almond extract (optional)
2 eggs, at room temperature
1⁄2 cup sour cream, at room temperature

Directions:
Preheat an oven to 325°F. Lightly grease an 8 1⁄2-by-4 1⁄2-inch loaf pan, preferably glass, and dust with flour. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt until blended. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter, sugar, vanilla and almond extract on medium to medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until just blended. Sprinkle half of the flour mixture over the egg mixture and stir until both are incorporated. Stir in the sour cream, then sprinkle with the remaining flour mixture and stir until evenly distributed.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and tap gently on the counter to even out and settle the ingredients. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 70 minutes, or longer if using a metal pan. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes.

Run a thin knife around the inside of the pan, invert the cake onto the rack and lift off the pan. Place the cake on one of its sides and continue cooling. Serve warm or at room temperature. (Serve with homemade whipped cream, or clotted cream and strawberries–that is if you really don’t care about your figure)