Apricot Brandy Pound Cake

TO MAKE THE CAKE: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter and line a 9-inch round cake pan with 3 inch sides.

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the sour cream, brandy, and vanilla. Stir in the apricots. Fold in the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning onto a rack to cool completely.

TO MAKE THE ICING: Sift the confectioners' sugar into a small bowl, stir in the butter and enough lemon juice to make a stiff paste. Stir over hot water until the icing is spreadable. Stir in the food coloring. Spread icing over cake and decorate with apricots.