Gran. (30 days of thankfulness - day 16)

Today is the 90th birthday of Steven's "Gran," Jewell Bailey. Gran has lived in a small town in North Carolina her whole life, raised many children and now has a slew of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  We're thankful that our daughter got to meet Gran, her only living great-grandparent, last year.

You can't help but love her.  I hope I'm this energetic and sassy when I'm 90! 

We thought we'd celebrate Gran's long life by sharing her famous pound cake recipe - the best pound cake you'll ever eat, hands down.  It has a scrumptious crust on the outside that you'll definitely want to peel off and sneak when no one's looking.

Here are a few words about the recipe from my husband...

Growing up, my "Gran" would fill her little North Carolina home with the aroma of pound cake.  My Papa's favorite part was the crust which is also mine to this day.  We weren't allowed to be loud or jump up and down when the pound cake was cooking, or it might make it fall.  Fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and a hot cup of coffee are the perfect companions to enjoying this cake.  I practiced many times my junior year in college and failed on numerous occassions until I perfected the recipe.

Gran's Pound Cake

3 cups flour (sift, then measure)

3 cups sugar

6 large eggs

2 sticks butter (room temp)

1 cup sour cream

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

Grease and flour a tube pan.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix together dry ingredients.  In a mixer bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add 1 egg at a time.  Don't overmix.  Add a little of the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl, then some sour cream, then the dry...until it's all incorporated.  Last, add the vanilla.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Add a sheet of foil over the top at the end to prevent burning.

Enjoy with a steaming cup of tea or coffee, and top it with fresh whipped cream and strawberries. 

Perfection.

~ ~ ~

During the month of November, I'm practicing "30 days of thankfulness" - will you join me?  Use your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to voice your thankfulness for something every day in November.  My hope is that this daily routine will create in me a heart of thankfulness and gratitude, no matter the day or month or situation.