Pound Cake (Praline)

½ cup shortening                                           
½ tsp baking powder
1 cup butter                                                    
¼ tsp baking soda
1 box dark brown sugar                                  
¾ cup milk
5 eggs                                                             
2 cups chopped pecans
3 cups flour                                                    
2 tsp vanilla

Cream butter and shortening; add sugar and add eggs one at a time.  Combine 2-1/2 cups flour, baking powder and soda.  Dredge pecans in ½ cup flour.  Stir in pecans and vanilla.  Bake in 10” tube pan at 350º for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool 10-15 minutes in pan.