Spiced Pumpkin Bread

Description: This is the best pumpkin bread I've ever tasted! I got the recipe from the November, 1995 issue of Bon Appetit Magazine. It was submitted by Vern Bertagna of West Frankfort, IL. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 (16 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Butter and flour two 9x5x3" loaf pans.
3. Beat sugar and oil in large bowl to blend.
4. Mix in eggs and pumpkin.
5. Sift flour, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, salt and baking powder into another large bowl.
6. Stir into pumpkin mixture in 2 addtions.
7. Mix in walnuts, if desired.
8. Divide batter equally between prepared pans.
9. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
10. Transfer to racks and cool 10 minutes.
11. Using sharp knife, cut around edge of loaves.
12. Turn loaves out onto racks and cool completely.
13. Makes 2 loaves.