Ingredients:

1-1/4 cups boiling water
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup honey
2-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
Pinch of salt
3 tablespoons rum
2 teaspoons cinnamon
4 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange rind (optional)

Procedure:

Stir together the boiling water, sugar, honey, baking soda and salt until the sugar dissolves. Mix in, thoroughly, the rum and cinnamon. Stir the flour in slowly to make a smooth batter. Add the grated orange rind, if desired. Pour the batter into a well buttered loaf pan (9 x 5 x 3 inches). For the first 10 minutes, bake in a very hot oven, 450 degrees, then reduce the temperature to moderate, 350 degrees, for one hour longer, or until it tests done. Turn the bread out on a wire rack to cool. Slice bread thinly and spread with butter. It is even more delicious the second day. May be baked in two smaller pans (7-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 2-1/4 inches). In this case, reduce the total cooking time by 15 minutes, or until they test done.