what do you think this is?

[memmey]

I have been looking through some of my little Mama's recipes. I wish now I had asked her when she was alive about things. We never realized how sick she was.
Anyway....she had a pound cake recipe that was the best thing in the world and she said it was just like making cornbread. ????? I can't find it, BUT I found this on a torn piece of paper.....2 cups sugar, 2 sticks of Oleo, 2 eggs, 4 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of soda. 1/2 teaspoon salt and lastly one teaspoon of vaniila added to the oleo.
Do you think that is a cake recipe and more importantly is that a pound cake recipe????

[Lisa S]

There's only one way to find out. Start cookin'.

[memmey]

I assume it is cake so I guess 350 degrees. I have her pound cake pan that she used. That has got to be cake.
\Now don't laugh, I am not a good cook soooo soda is baking soda like Arm and Hammer? Stop laughing Lisa!

[ChapterTwo]

Here's what I found for a cornbread recipe, below...and so it does seem similar...and you've got the vanilla listed on your paper, which would certainly be in pound cake...so I'm guessing it's the pound cake!

Cornbread
4 tablespoons butter, olive oil, lard or bacon drippings1 1/2 cups medium-grind cornmeal1/2 cup all-purpose flour1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon salt1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar2 eggs1 1/4 cups milk, more if needed

[ChapterTwo]

Yup, Arm and Hammer makes Baking Soda...or you can buy the store brand. Doesn't matter.

[memmey]

I'm sitting here looking at a whole zip lock bag full of her recipes. Her little handwriting is so sweet. She has stuff written on all sorts of envelopes and torn paper and cards. It could be my grand mothers muffin recipe but hers were lemon I think.

[memmey]

So Two,
the soda is what makes it rise...why not use baking powder?

[ChapterTwo]

If I remember correctly from Home Ec classes, back in high school (stretching the memory here...), I think you'd need more baking powder than baking soda tp accomplish the task...and they're not really interchangeable. It would affect the taste.

[ChapterTwo]

Generally speaking, baking powder can not be substituted for baking soda since this will leave excess acidic compounds in the food which may affect flavor, texture and color.

[Lisa S]

Memmy ~ I'm the most clueless cook in the world. No laughing from my quarter.

I have a few recipes written in my grandma's handwriting. It is sweet. You're so lucky to have bunches.

Tell us how in turns out. :D

[RoseMary]

It sounds like a pound cake to me, though I would think it would have 3/4 cup or mabe a cup or so of milk or buttermilk in it. Other than that, I think it would work.

[ChapterTwo]

To confuse the issue, Memmey, take a look at this recipe for pound cake (there are a lot on this site)...it uses baking POWDER! lol ;)

http://www.recipes4cakes.com/pound_cakes/auntie_cake.htm

[RoseMary]

There are so many recipes that it is hard to tell. I found the one below that doesn't use any milk or baking powder or baking soda:confused:

1 lb. of Imperial Margarine
6 eggs at room temperature
1 pound powdered sugar
3 cups cake flour
2 tsp. vanilla

Cream margarine and sugar. Add eggs one at a time and beat lightly, mixing in well after each addition. Add flour and mix well. Add vanilla before, during, and after adding the flour.

2 Pour batter into a stick-free or greased and floured bundt cake pan and bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours on 325°F. Begin watching the cake at 1 hour. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cake should be cracked on top and golden brown.

3 Cool for 5 minutes on a cake rack. Loosen the sides with a knife. Gently remove the cake from the pan while still warm


I think this would be a very 'heavy' pound cake (as they should be), but it is probably good.

One thing I'm thinking is that most pound cake recipes use more eggs than your recipe.

[Gigi]

What a treasure to have a recipe from your mother~ I hope you try it and let us know....

It does sound like a pound cake---if you use the same pan and give it a whirl- it will be fun to find out! ;)

I wish I had just ONE recipe from my Grandmother~ :o

[annielinz]

Oh Memmy to have recipes in their own writing is wonderful. You really should try and preserve those by framing them and hanging them in your kitchen. How great would that be to be surrounded by family recipes.

[RoseMary]

I love annie's idea of framing the recipes:).

[ChapterTwo]

I have some of my Mom's recipes too...handwritten. Things like pot roast, turkey, ham, her "famous" potato salad (everyone loved it!), cakes and cookies, etc... I really treasure them, and it is a wonderful idea to frame them.

[chyna]

Try it and let us know what comes out the other end. Would anyone else in your family have an idea on what it could be or what it was written on? I don't have recipes from anyone except my mom for basic cookie dough that she got from a friend. Alot of Chocolate chip cookies have come from that recipe. :)

[Breezy]

Memmy ~ whatever it is it sounds good so go ahead and make it.:D

RoseMary ~ your recipe sounds yummy - now im drooling!

annielinz ~ what a wonderful idea ~ to frame and hang the recipes!

[memmey]

This ia a photo I posted last year. This is Mary Lou Andersen Emmons ( MaMaw) teacake recipe. Good old southern Teacakes that you eat with a good cold glass of iced tea. yuuummmmm


http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o243/memmey/PINKHOUSEandREDHOUSE061.jpg

[anneandkita]

Oooohhh that's so awesome and looks so great!!!!

Definitely make the recipe and tell us what it ends up being! That sounds like the kind of mystery that would be a lot of fun to solve. ^_^

[Gigi]

Oh I love this picture~ so much meaning.

Did you bake the pound cake? Is it time to come over? I can bring a selection of teas, or coffee. ;)

[WannaBHomemaker]

I love baking! That's a fun idea to frame the recipes! My mom has lots of recipes from my grandmother and great aunt and some from my great-grandmother too! I should go through them next time I'm home and copy some of them down.

Memmey - I hope you're trying out the recipe!