Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup water. Add 1 teaspoon sugar. Combine sugar, salt, shortening, molasses and water and bring to boil. Add soda to milk. Stir into hot mixture. When this is lukewarm, add the yeast. Stir in rye flour and beat thoroughly. Add white flour to make a stiff dough. Knead. Let rise until double in bulk. Knead down, let rise again. Make 6 loaves. Rise until light. Bake 45 minutes at 375 degrees.
Variations: I use honey in place of sugar. You may add raisin or the grated rind of 3 oranges.
