Pound Cake

This is the REAL McCOY!

4 cups cake flour, sifted before measuring (1 pound)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups butter (1 pound)
2 cups granulated sugar (1 pound)
10 eggs
2 teaspoons almond extract, vanilla extract or brandy

Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease well and flour a tube cake pan.

Sift flour and salt together. Place butter and sugar in mixing bowl. Cream together until light and fluffy. Add whole eggs, one at a time. Beat thoroughly between each addition of the eggs. If an electric mixer is used, do not stop mixer while adding eggs. Add half the sifted flour and salt. Beat about 1 minute. Add remaining flour-salt mixture and flavorings. Beat about 1 minute. Use rubber spatula to collect all flour from sides of mixing bowl. Pour into prepared tube cake pan. Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes, checking for doneness periodically. Remove from pan immediately after removing from oven. Cool on a cake rack.