Summer Recipe: Key Lime Pound Cake

The first week back to work after a vacation can be hard. If you've spent time on the beach, you may be long for sunshine and waves, wishing you could blow off that day's meetings and stretch your toes in the sand.

Beat those post-vacation blues with this recipe for Key Lime pound cake. It's goes great with coffee in the morning, or a glass of milk during the day.

To make this recipe you need the following:

• 1 c. butter, softened
• 1/2 c. shortening
• 3 c. sugar
• 6 large eggs
• 3 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 c. milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. lime zest
• 1/4 c. Key Lime juice

To start, preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Beat the butter and shortening at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer (or hand mixer) until creamy. Gradually add the sugar, beating at medium speed until light and fluffy. Next, add the eggs, one at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add this to the butter mixture alternately with the milk, starting and ending with the flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla, lime zest, and lime juice. Pour the batter into a greased dish (I used a bundt pan) and bake for one hour and 10 minutes, or one hour and 20 minutes – until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Enjoy!

If you'd like to spice up the cake you can mix together a glaze, and pour it over the warm cake prior to serving.

To make a Key Lime glaze you simply need to whisk together the following ingredients:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh Key lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract