Date and Cheese Bread - 1930s

4 cups all-purpose flour
5 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons shortening
1/2 cup grated cheese
3/4 cup molasses
3/4 cup dates
1 1/2 cups milk

Sift the flour with the baking powder, soda, and salt 3 times; rub in the cheese and the shortening, stir in the chopped dates, pour in the milk combined with the molasses. Mix thoroughly. Turn into well buttered bread pan and smooth out with the back of a spoon dipped in cold water. Bake about 1 hour in a moderate oven (350). Rub the top with butter, let cool in pan placed on a cake rack so that the air circulates under it.

Source: Grandma's Old Fashioned Molasses Recipes, copyright 1930s, Boston Molasses Company,                    Boston, MA