2/3 c. hot water
2/3 c. raisins (golden raisins good)
2/3 c. shortening
2 2/3 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 c. pumpkin (fresh or canned with no spices added), cooked & mashed
3 1/3 c. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. chopped walnuts (opt.)

Put hot water in a small bowl. Add raisins; let cool and set aside. Cream together shortening, sugar, eggs, and pumpkin. Sift together flour, cinnamon, soda, cloves, allspice, baking powder and salt. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture and raisins and water and chopped walnuts. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Cool 10 minutes and then remove from pans. Cool on rack. Makes 2 loaves.