Friends & Giving

Thanksgiving isn’t just a day. It’s a way we can live our lives every day.

In a world full of selfishness and greed, wouldn’t it be nice to do something nice for someone else for no reason at all?? Have you ever thought about baking something for a friend, and giving it to them, just to make them happy? Just to GIVE for the sake of giving!?

Today I want to share a recipe I found in a Gooseberry Patch cookbook called coffee can pumpkin bread. Not only is this recipe amazing! (Think Starbucks Pumpkin Loaf good!)

This recipe is made in a coffee can!! The perfect vessel in which to transport and GIVE your pumpkin bread to a friend!! You can even buy some cinnamon butter, and find a fancy vintage spreader, to make this bread even sweeter!!

Coffee Can Pumpkin Bread

4 eggs

2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. baking powder

3 c. sugar

1 15-oz. can pumpkin

2/3 c. water

1-1/2 t. salt

1 t. ground cloves

1 c. oil

1 t. nutmeg

1 t. cinnamon

3-1/3 c. all-purpose flour

Beat eggs in a large mixing bowl; add sugar and mix well. Stir in pumpkin, water and oil; set aside. Combine remaining ingredients in another bowl and mix well; stir into egg mixture. Fill a greased one-pound coffee can 3/4 full. Bake at 325 degrees for 1-1/2 hours, or until top of bread springs to touch. When cool, run a knife around the edge to loosen and gently shake can upside-down to remove. Makes one loaf.

*I also made this recipe in a regular loaf pan and baked it for 75 mins. It came out perfectly!!

Why not invite your bestie over for an impromptu FRIENDS-GIVING in a field!! It doesn’t have to be fancy. Here I used an old picnic basket and filled it with wild golden rod and dried gourds. I added candlesticks and faux taper candles from The Unique Black Sheep. I used round bread boards as chargers and antique ironstone for our plates. Seasonal fruits are always a nice touch and give the table added color. Don’t forget that pumpkin bread, cinnamon butter and that vintage spreader!!