Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake

From Bon Appetit/November 2000, found on epicurious.com

1 3/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp
1 1/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup canned pure pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup whole milk
3/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350. Butter and flour 9X5X2 1/2 inch metal loaf pan.

Sift first 5 ingredients into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Gradually be in sugar, then beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in pumpkin and vanilla. Beat dry ingredients into pumpkin mixture alternately with milk. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Transfer batter to prepared pan.

Bake loaf cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool in pan on rack 15 minutes. Turn cake out onto rack; cool completely. Can be made 2 days ahead. Wrap in plastic; store at room temperature. Makes 12 servings.

Brandy's Note: I greased and floured mini-muffin tins. I baked at 35o for 15 minutes. Makes perfect bite sized cupcake/muffins to dredge through some cool whip! It made about 5 1/2 dozen, I think.

Mandarin Orange Cake

Cake:
1 box yellow cake mix
4 eggs
3/4 cup oil
1 - 11oz can mandarin oranges

Mix cake mix, eggs, oil and juice from oranges and beat for 3 minutes. Add oranges and beat 1 more minute. Bake according to box directions for time and temperature.

Frosting:
1 - 12oz container cool whip
1 large can crushed pineapple, drained
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
Mix well with spoon and frost cooled cake.

Note: best if refrigerated overnight!

Oatmeal Cake

Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 3/4 cup oatmeal, let stand for 20 minutes.

Cream together:
1 stick butter
1 c brown sugar packed
1 c white sugar
2 eggs beaten
1 t vanilla

Sift together:
1 1/2 c flour
1/2 t salt
1 t baking soda
1 t cinnamon
dash ground nutmeg
dash ground cloves

Mix it all together and pour into lightly greased and floured pan (8x10 usually). Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes, cool for 10 minutes in pan, remove if desired. Sprinkle on powdered sugar if you like. Yum! Makes the house smell really good.