1. Preheat oven to 350F. Butter two 8x4 loaf pans. 9x5 loaf pans can also be used, but will not be as full. Use white or raw sugar to coat the pans, as you would with flour for a cake.
2. Sift all dry ingredients except salt and pepper into a large bowl. Add the salt and pepper and whisk to combine. Make a "well" in center.
3. In a medium non-reactive saucepan bring butter, molasses and simple
syrup to a boil slowly. Take care not to let it boil over if the heat is too high or the pan too small.
4. While the sryrups heat, whisk together egg yolks, eggs and dairy in another bowl.
5. When mixture on the stove comes to a boil, shut off heat and let rest for a moment. Pour this hot mixture all at once into the center of your bowl of dry ingredients. Using a whisk, mix dry ingredients into liquid, from center out, carefully. When batter begins to seize, pour in second bowl of wet ingredients. Whisk batter until smooth and uniform. Batter is a bit thin.
6. Divide batter into the two prepared pans and put into oven. baking time can be variable. Set the timer for 30 minutes and check. Takes 40-45 minutes in my oven. It is done when sides pull away from the pan,
middle bounces back to the touch and/or a cake-tester inserted in the
center comes out clean. Cool at least until warm before slicing.
