Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour tube pan or pans of your choice, set aside.

In mixing bowl cream together sugar and shortening until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add extract

Stir baking soda in buttermilk. (DON'T skip this step, very important!) Sift flour, slowly add with buttermilk to creamed mixture. Scrape bowl occasionally. Mix until well blended.

Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until top of cake is golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let cool in pan on cooling rack for 30 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool completely before putting in container. You don't want a "sweaty" cake.