Pound Cake (from Paula Deen)

2 sticks butter

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

3 cups sugar

5 eggs

3 cups flour, plus more for pan

1/2 tsp.salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 F.  With a mixer, cream butter and shortening together.  Add sugar, a little at a time.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition.  Stir dry ingredients together in a bowl and add to mixer alternately with milk, starting with the flour and ending with the flour.  Mix in vanilla.  Pour into a greased and floured tube pan (or as I have used here, a molded form.  Be sure to spray with a non-stick spray and dust with flour well).  If you are using a mold such as above, be sure to smooth the batter evenly.  Bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

*When using a mold as above, when the cake has cooled slightly, shake the mold to loosen.  When loose, turn over onto a cooling rack to cool.   Dust with confectioners sugar if desired.