Finally, Fall Nesting

I'm glad fall doesn't truly begin for a couple more weeks. It gives me time to move my summer home to a fall retreat. That was the plan last week when work took the wind out of my sails instead. Over the weekend I finally had a chance to putter around the house. Autumn is slowly making its way into my home. I love the smell of spices and pumpkin this time of year. So I made an old family favorite: Pumpkin Cake.

In 1982, my mother hand wrote a "cookbook" for me. The recipe for Pumpkin Cake was included. Mom commented that she got the recipe from a girl she went to high school with. It had been in her family fo about 100 years (at that time).

Pumpkin Cake

1/2 cup shortening

2 eggs

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp ginger

1 cup pumpkin (I used canned)

3/4 cup milk

1 cup raisins

1 1/4 cup sugar

2 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Thoroughly cream shortening and sugar. Blend in beaten eggs. Sift dry ingredients together and add alternately with pumpkin and milk into creamed mixture. Add nuts and raisins. Pour into greased angel food pan. Bake 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes.

Has anyone else noticed the number of acorns and squirrels that are available for purchase to decorate your home with this fall? I found a couple of neat acorns at Pier One. There's nothing like a bowl of apples either as the days grow chilly. The apples in my wooden bowl are destined for an apple pie. Won't that make my husband happy!