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Just in time for Easter, here's a completely springtime-inspired poundcake. It's classic proportions of sugar-eggs-butter, plus a sweet herbal note with aromatic thyme and lemon. Absolutely perfect for celebratory brunch.
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Preheat your oven to 350 and set out 2 sticks of butter to soften (two sticks of butter! two sticks of butter!). Get two cups of flour (use cake flour if you have it, but I didn't and it worked fine) and mix with a pinch of salt and 1 teaspoon baking powder (here's a bonus household tip! Last time I ran out of baking powder, I filled up the empty canister with dried beans and now use it as a rattle to ward off the cat when she is trying to stick her paw in my water or step Phil's face while he's sleeping. I call it the "can of shakes" and it strikes terror into her heart. Very useful!). In another big bowl, blend your two sticks of butter until fluffy.
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Get 1 cup of sugar and mix it into the fluffy butter, incorporating just 1/2 cup at a time.
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Beautiful.
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Get four gorgeous, local, farm-fresh eggs.
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Separate the eggs--adding the yolks one at a time to the butter-sugar mixture. Set the whites aside in a bowl because we'll be beating them and adding them in as well in a minute.
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Like I said, one yolk at a time, totally incorporate it, then the next yolk.
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It turns a really pretty bright yellow as you go along.
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Once all your eggs are added in, zest in the peel from 1 lemon, then squeeze in the juice.
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Now add your flour mixture in 3 stages, being sure to incorporate all in before adding more. Are you sensing a theme here, with the sloww addition of ingredients? Pound cake is really easy to make, but it's taking the time on these steps that really makes the end product good.
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Now, where's your thyme?
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Mince up about 1 tablespoon fresh thyme and add it to the mixture.
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Back to those egg whites--beat them until they get fluffy and incorporate them into your mixture.
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Pour the whole mixture into a really well buttered loaf pan and pop it in the oven.
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Mine took about 1 hour and 20 minutes to bake up, but I think my oven is on the cooler side. Test it with a wooden stick to be sure.
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With ice cream? Divine.
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