My aunt Rachel Malgieri Rocco was a great home baker (see her Date Walnut Bread), and I watched her prepare this pound cake countless times as a child. I was fascinated by the odd mixing method—the yolks and sugar are whipped, then the flour and butter are beaten together, the egg whites are whipped, and after everything is combined the batter goes back on the mixer for a thorough beating. Several years ago I ran into Mary Lou McGr
