3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup granulated white sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs
2 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. ground black pepper (or 1/2 tsp. if pepper is strong)
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 tsp. baking soda

Cream butter until like whipped cream; add dark brown sugar and stir, then add granulated white sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until grains of sugar almost disappear.

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, and spices.

Add this to first mixture alternately with buttermilk to which baking soda has been added. Beat well after each addition.

When all is mixed, pour into well-greased and floured loaf pan or layer cake pans (it may be baked in layers or in a loaf).

Bake at 325 to 350°F from 45 to 60 minutes or longer if loaf, and 20 to 30 minutes at 350 to 375°F if layer.

Submitted by: Rusty Barton