Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Yield two loaves

Preheat oven to 350°F

Sift together:

3 1/2 C flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp ground cloves

In large bowl, beat until light and fluffy:

2 2/3 C sugar

2/3 C soft shortening

4 eggs

Beat in:

2 C cooked or canned pumpkin

Now add the dry ingredients in three additions alternately with:

2/3 C water or milk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Do not over-beat between each addition. Fold in:

2 C coarsely chopped nuts (slivered almonds are good) opt.

1 C chocolate chips (or can use raisins or chopped dates for variety)

Pour batter into two greased loaf pans, lined with wax paper on the bottom, and sprinkle tops with cinnamon-sugar.

Bake about one hour or until done. (When loaf has shrunk from the sides of the pan and/or sounds hollow when you thump the bottom of the loaf.)

For other tasty treats, check out the Sweet as Sugar Cookies blog and see what she has cooking! Fun! Fun!