¼ cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 cups flour

2½ teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon each cinnamon and salt

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ cup each milk and water

1/3 cup poppy seeds

2 teaspoons rose or orange flower water

½ cup golden raisins, dredged in flour, optional

Heat oven to 350° F. Grease and flour two 9x5-inch loaf pans. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. In separate bowl, mix together all dry ingredients except raisins and poppy seeds. In a measuring cup mix milk, water, and flavoring. Add dry mixture and liquids alternately to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Add poppy seeds and blend thoroughly, then add the raisins and stir them in gently by hand. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

By Breid Foxsong