BAKED FIG PUDDING

1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 cup molasses
2 cups finely chopped dried figs
1/2 tsp. grated lemon rind
1 cup buttermilk
Optional: 1/2 cup broken black walnut meats
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. double-acting baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Preheat oven to 325. Beat butter until soft. Add 2 eggs and molasses and beat until fluffy. Add figs, lemon rind, buttermilk, and walnuts. In a separate bowl, with sifted flour, resift with baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. One teaspoon of ginger may be substituted for the cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir the sifted ingredients into the pudding mixture. Bake in a greased 9-inch tube pan about one hour.
Yields 14 servings.