Cold Oven Pound Cake

Step 1
Do not preheat the oven. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan.

Step 2
Cream together sugar, margarine, and shortening in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Add flour alternately with milk, beating briefly after each addition. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

Step 3
Place in the cold oven, then set the temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 1/2 hours. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.