Cooking Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This should take about 3-5 minutes.

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice.

Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk. Start and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.

Gently fold in the poppy seeds until evenly distributed throughout the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

For an extra touch, consider adding a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and lemon juice drizzled over the top of the cooled loaf.

Also, feel free to experiment by adding a handful of blueberries or a splash of vanilla extract for additional flavor. Enjoy your baking!