Pumpkin Cake for the Holidays

"Sugar Pumpkin at Kiva Fireplace with Zuni Deer & Hopi Moth painted by R. Cafazzo"

 Why waste a perfectly lovely delicious Pumpkin that you bought for the Holidays and just let it sit and rot. Even a carved Halloween Jack-o-lantern can be cut up, steamed and used for all sorts of deliciousness. Including Pumpkin Cake, Pumpkin Waffles or Pancakes, Pumpkin Rissotto, or even Pumpkin Polenta! 

I love this time of year when there's loads of Pumpkin items available in places like Trader Joe's you can find Pumpkin Ice Cream, Pumpkin Ravioli, Pumpkin Macarons and on & on. There's Pumpkin Beer in your local shops, and perhaps you'll find a Pumpkin Shrotbread Cookie as I have recently at my neighborhood bakery.

I've posted old aging family recipes here before, long ago, including my Pumpkin Pie recipe (you'll find it in the search box). 

 "The Punkin' Cake!"

                   Turn on your Oven to 450 degrees

                   In a medium bowl Mix together:

                   1 large egg

            7/8 stick unsalted organic butter, softened

            1 ¼ cup cooked mashed pumpkin

            1 cup, less 2 tblspn organic sugar

                   ¼ cup molasses

            3 tblspns half & half

            1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

                   stir in:

                   1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

            1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

            pinch of allspice

                   2 tblspns cornmeal

            1/2 teaspoon baking soda

            1/2 teaspoon baking powder

add:

                   2 cups all-purpose flour

                   Put this batter into a parchment lined Loaf Pan

           Top with:

                        1/2 cup walnut or pecan halves, 

or 1/3 cup unsalted pumpkin or sunflower seeds

Please Note: My Mom & Grandmom would have added the nuts directly into the batter

                      Lower oven temperature to 350

                      Place cake onto middle oven rack

                      Bake for 55 minutes

it's done when a toothpick into the center comes out clean, 

try to keep it moist though not wet.

 "Carved Halloween Jack-o-Lantern by Ernie Leavitt"

Once my Niece Izy Hossack began blogging recipes on her sensational food blog/webiste Top With Cinnamon (no, not everything is made with cinnamon, it's just a cleverly chosen tag line), she had asked that I stop sharing family recipes as she is enjoying quite a bit of success in the world tweaking such recipes. Sorry Izy but I made this cake and felt it to be worth sharing!

You can read all about Izy and her recipes and adventures on her www.topwithcinnamon.com site or order a copy of her wonderful book "Top With Cinnamon", (or demand your local bookstore stock this lovely book, it's only $29.95 US). The book has recipes that are Not on her website. Her photos, styling and the easy to follow instructions will keep you wanting to get into the kitchen and try something for yourself. 

Izy Hossack her first signing of Top With Cinnamon (the Book)