October 2014 Country Kitchen
- 5-Flavor Punchbowl Pound Cake
- Almond Crusted Pound Cake
- Apple Dapple Pound Cake
- Aunt Jean’s Whipping Cream Pound Cake with Chocolate Icing
- Baptist Pound Cake
- Berry Creamy Pound Cake
- Blueberry Banana Pound Cake
- Blueberry Pound Cake
- Caramel Apple Pound Cake, 2nd Place Winner
- Caramel Covered Toffee Pound Cake
- Caramel Nut Pound Cake
- Chocolate Pound Cake with Real Fudge Icing
- Chocolate Pound Cake, 1st Place Winner
- Chocolate Pound Cake
- Chocolate Pound Cake
- Coconut – Black Walnut Pound Cake
- Coconut Pound Cake
- Coconut Pound Cake
- County Pound Cake
- Cream Cheese Pound Cake
- Cream Cheese Pound Cake
- French Vanilla Pound Cake
- Fresh Apple Cake
- German Chocolate Pound Cake
- Ginger Ale Pound Cake
- Madam Morsel Pound Cake
- Maw Maw’s Pound Cake
- Nancy’s Orange Blossom Cake
- Peaches and Cream Pound Cake
- Pixie Pound Cake
- Pound Cake Surprise, 3rd Place Winner
- Ree’s Lemon/Orange Cream Cheese Pound Cake
- Sour Cream Pound Cake
- Sour Cream Pound Cake
- Strawberry Swirl Pound Cake
- Tropical Pineapple Kumquat Pound Cake
A classic chocolate pound cake won first place and $150 for Becky Martin of Russell County at the 2014 Heritage Cooking Contest sponsored by the Alabama Farmers Federation Women’s Leadership Committee Sept. 4 in Montgomery.
Martin was among 33 Alabama cooks who qualified for the state competition by winning their county cooking contest. The annual contest showcases Alabama-grown commodities, including the butter, eggs and milk used in Martin’s winning recipe.
“The first time I ever had this cake it was baked by my friend, Patricia Self of Barbour County,” Martin said. “Once I tasted it, I knew I had to have the recipe, and it’s easy.”
Martin, who likes to cook, said her favorite creations are cakes and casseroles. She is vice president of the Russell County Farmers Federation, has competed in the state cooking contest several times and previously won third place. However, winning this year’s contest was a surprise, she said.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I made this recipe a couple of days ago, and it rose about three inches out of the pan and then fell flat. It was a disaster. I’m glad that was a trial run. There are so many delicious cakes here and so many good cooks. This is quite an honor.”
The second-place winner was Lynn House of Monroe County, who won $100 for her Caramel Apple Pound Cake.
Third place and $50 went to Pauline Morris of Jefferson County, who entered her frosted special Pound Cake Surprise.
Pound cakes are a traditional Southern favorite, and this year’s contest showcased a variety of ways the basic recipe can be expanded, said Federation Women’s Division Director Kim Ramsey.
“We had chocolate pound cakes, some fruit pound cakes, some with nuts and a lot made with cream cheese,” she said. “There’s a big variety, and there’s something for everyone.”
Renowned food blogger and chef Leah Stacey, a Montgomery native, spoke to contestants while judges sampled the pound cakes. Stacey now lives in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, and is the 12-time winner of the online recipe contest hosted by the “Just A Pinch,” blog.
The winning recipes and those in the state contest are available at AlfaFarmers.org.