German Chocolate Pound Cake

Granny's Drawers Cookbook

When the cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents gathered, our tables were filled with delicious meats, vegetables, salads, breads and desserts. The food satisfied our bodies, the family nourished our souls and left us with warm memories-rekindled by the sight of a laden table.

Many times, we have wanted to capture the recipes and ideas which have made our family gatherings special. In Granny's Drawers, we have collected more than 350 of our family's best loved recipes from four generations of Southern cooks. It contains time-honored recipes for classic southern dishes along with updated recipes for cooking in the 1990's. Granny's Drawers will be your guide for daily cooking, weekend entertaining and holiday feasts.

Granny's Drawers is more than just a guide to preparing great meals. It is also a reflection of Granny's life, as mother of five and grandmother of ten, and her love for cooking. Old family photos dating back to the 1930's reflect the joy of family life with Granny.

The author is Karen Harris, a devoted granddaughter, who cherishes her years with granny.

German Chocolate Pound Cake

Recipe by Margaret Young

3 cups sugar
2 sticks margarine
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
5 eggs
1 bar German chocolate, melted
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup milk
1 cup nuts, optional
1 stick soft margarine
2 squares bitter chocolate, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 box powdered sugar, sifted
Milk

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cream the sugar, margarine and shortening. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each egg. Add the German chocolate. Sift the flour with the baking powder and salt. Add the flour to the margarine mixture, alternately with the milk. Add the vanilla and mix. Add the nuts. Pour the batter into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 1-1/2 hours.

Combine the soft margarine, bitter chocolate, lemon juice, and sugar. Add enough milk to adjust spreading consistency for icing. Ice the top and sides of the pound cake.

Yields: 12 to 16 servings

Introduction and Recipe from:
Granny's Drawers
By Karen Harris
Carolina Publishing
$16.95
ISBN 1-886690-00-6
Reprinted with permission

Granny's Drawers may be purchased from local bookstores and selected gift stores. Or, you may order Granny's Drawers directly from:

Carolina Publishing
P. O. Box. 2505
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

This page originally published as a FoodDay article in 1997.