Sweet potato pound Cake (Recipe)

Ingredients

Cake:

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 cups sugar

2 cups cooked, mashed and cooled sweet potatoes (2 medium)

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

Glaze:

1 cup sifted powdered sugar

3 to 5 teaspoons orange juice

Shredded orange peel (optional)

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 350°.  Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan.  Set aside.

2. To make the cake: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter or margarine and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.  Add the sweet potatoes and vanilla and beat until well combined.

3. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 1 minute after each addition.  (The batter will look curdled.)

4. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt.  Slowly add the flour mixture to the potato mixture.  Beat on low speed until just combined.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.  Bake in the 350° oven about 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean.

6. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes, then invert onto a serving plate.

7. To make the glaze: In a small bowl, stir together the sifted powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of the orange juice.  Add enough additional orange juice (1 to 2 tablespoons) to give the glaze a drizzling consistency.

8. Spoon the glaze over the warm cake.  If desired, sprinkle with orange peel.  Cool completely.

Tips:

This cake can be made in loaf pans, if you prefer.  Prepare batter as directed above, except grease and flour four 7 1/2x3 1/2x2-inch loaf pans or six 41/2x2 1/2x1 1/2-inch loaf pans.  Pour he batter into the pans.  Bake in the 350° oven for 40 to 50 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool the cakes in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.  Invert and glaze as desired above.

To cook sweet potatoes: Wash, peel and cut off woody portions, then cut the potatoes into quarters.  Cook, covered, in enough boiling water to cover, about 25 minutes or until tender.  Drain and mash until smooth using a potato masher, fork, food mill, food ricer or electric mixer.