Monday, May 28, 2012

7up Pound Cake


Happy Memorial Day friends! I hate to go on a rant here, but it really ticks me off when people act as if Memorial Day is national "hang out with your friends and bbq" day. I sent Ryan to the store to pick up a few things for this pound cake, and when he came back he was all flustered because he waited 20 minutes in line due to the "idiotic" cashier he encountered. And yes, idiotic is a direct quote. Basically, this cashier was a young girl whining to every customer in line about how she didn't get Memorial weekend off and how she can't hang out with her friends at the beach. Oh, I'm sorry, I guess we all forgot the part when you fought for your country. Or, all the time you spent dedicated in the service. Here is an idea...shut your mouth and scan the groceries :)

It is really sad how many people could care less about the true meaning of this holiday. I come from a family composed of many veterans - some who have fought in wars, and some who have not. Regardless, they all are extremely proud of the fact that they have served their country and lost many friends in the process of doing so. My father lost over a hundred of his 101st Airborne division friends in a plane crash, back in the 80's. One of these friends was his best friend from childhood, and to this day, he still gets sad when talking about it. My father was supposed to be on that plane, but was granted permission to stay home because my mother's due date to have me was so close to their departure. He is blessed to be on this earth today, and he never hesitates to thank those that have sacrificed for this great nation.

I think this is a large reason why my father has raised me to have such respect for veterans. It doesn't matter where we are, or how much time we have - if my father sees a veteran, he will stop, shake their hand and thank them for their service. This is something I have always admired about my father, and because of that, I now do the same. Many of these veterans, especially the older ones never received the appreciation they so rightfully deserved. I really feel that thanking them is the least we can do as a nation. Freedom isn't free, and we are blessed to live our lives the way we desire thanks to those brave enough to serve this country. Make every day Memorial Day. Do your part to let our veterans know they are appreciated and respected.

So...who likes pound cake?!

Let me start by saying that I am shocked that I decided to make something without chocolate. It has been a very long time since I went chocolate-less in anything I've baked. I am a choco-holic and proud! If you don't like chocolate, let me suggest that you re-evaluate your life.

My students drove me to the point of insanity this week, so the fact that I didn't eat my weight in chocolate is a miracle in itself. If I heard "Miss Poehl....(insert tattle-tale comment here)" one more time this week, my head would have exploded. Due to my misfortune, my school's secretary was sweet enough to share this recipe with me. It has a syrup that soaks into the cake and keeps it amazingly moist. I really haven't had a pound cake this moist, ever. And the glaze on the top is a must! You know me, the sweeter I can get something, the better.

I opted to make mini pound cakes using a muffin pan (big mistake). It worked just fine, but I increased my work load by about a hundred in doing so. You can make this cake in a loaf or bundt pan just as easily. Mine aren't the prettiest looking little things, but they are ridiculous tasty. Pound cake is self explanatory - prepare to gain pounds while eating this. However, also prepare for the "Hallelujah" song to play within seconds of the first bite. Yes, it is that good. Just wait, you will hear it.


7up Pound Cake

2 sticks butter
1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
3 cups sugar
5 eggs
1 teaspoon lemon extract
3 cups all purpose flour
1 large bottle 7up

Pre heat oven to 300 degrees.

Grease and flour loaf or bundt cake pan. Cream butter and shortening with sugar. Add eggs, one at a time - beating well after each addition. Add lemon extract. Add flour and 7up alternately, beating after each addition.

Bake cake for 1 hour and 15 minutes (25 minutes for muffin pan).

Let cake cool for 10 minutes, poke holes throughout the top of cake with baking sticks or rods (you can also use straws for this). Drizzle syrup over cake, allowing it to absorb into cake. Syrup recipe is as follows:

7up Syrup

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup 7up

Heat ingredients in sauce pan over medium heat. Stir until mixture thickens (about 10 minutes). Spoon syrup over cake, once holes have been poked using baking sticks or rods.

After cake cools, drizzle glaze over the top. Glaze recipe is as follows:

7up Glaze

2 cups confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons 7up (more or less depending on texture desired)

Add 7up to confectioners sugar and whisk. (I added 7up little by little, until I reached my desired glaze consistency). I like my glaze more on the thick side.


15 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. It is really delicious, I hope you try it soon! I keep finding myself eating them, and I really need to stop, lol! Thanks for your comment! :)

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  2. I was seriously just thinking that I needed to find a recipe to use up all the 7-up that somehow has accumulated in my apartment. This looks like the perfect recipe for me!

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    1. I am so excited you are going to try this recipe! I promise you will love it! I ate one today, and it is still just as moist as it was the day I made them! :)

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  3. VERY cute blog! Love the title. Thanks for introducing yourself today, happy to have "met" ya!! Look forward to seeing what you do in the future....

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    1. Thank you so much! I am glad we "met" and can now be bloggie friends. I think you and I will be able to find some great recipes from one another! :)

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  4. I made a chocolate 7-Up cake as one of my first blog posts - it's a good one, full of butter! ha

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    1. You aren't kidding! I learned real quick why they call this stuff "pound cake"! lol! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment :)

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  5. I'm addicted to your blog, I was practically drooling with this post! I'm a new follower, thanks for stopping by my blog this morning!

    http://sugarlyeverafter.blogspot.com/

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  6. Awe, thank you! That is so sweet of you to say :) Thank you for following and taking the time to comment! I am excited to follow your blog and get to know you better! Yay for blog friends!

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  7. Yes! Thank you for what you wrote about our veterans. So true.

    And also, that looks delicious!

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    1. Rachel, you are very welcome! I really hate how many people don't take the time to appreciate the sacrifices they have made. Thank you for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment! :)

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  8. hi sabrina! thanks for your sweet comment on my blog! it totally made my day!
    i personally think that my blog can't even compare to what you have here, your blog and baked creations look great!

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    1. Awe, you are so sweet to say that! I think your blog is adorable and your pictures are so great! I feel like I have such a long way to go with my blog, especially picture wise. I tend to be a perfectionist, so I am trying to work on my photography. I look forward to learning some great tips from you! ;)

      Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!

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  9. Hola! Quick Question...does the cake recipe reqire the entire 2ltr bottle of 7Up or a specific measurement?

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