Granted, this is not a "pretty" cake but in our family it's the most requested cake for birthdays & other special occasions. The entire house smells "yummy" whenever it's baking:
2 sticks margarine or butter
½ cup shortening
3 cups sugar
5 eggs
3 cups flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon of the following extracts/flavorings: vanilla, almond, butter, lemon, rum, coconut
Preheat oven to 325 deg. Grease & flour Bundt pan. Cream together butter and shortening. Add sugar gradually, beating well. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add flavorings and mix. Add baking powder to flour and then add flour mixture and milk alternately, beating well. Bake at 325 deg. for 1-1/2 hours.
After removing from oven, let cool in pan while preparing the following glaze:
Combine 1 cup sugar, ½ cup water, 1 teaspoon each of the flavorings used in the cake and a pinch of cream of tartar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes.
Remove cake from pan and punch little holes over top and sides with a toothpick. While cake and glaze are still hot, spoon glaze over top and sides.