Pumpkin Delights at Tea Time

Hello Tea Friends,

There are so many wonderful things about autumn! 
One of them being pumpkins! (The pumpkin display to the left is from a local quilt show I attended at a garden nursery.)
I love decorating with pumpkins and of course cooking with them.
They seem to embody the "taste" of autumn.

This year I decided I needed to bring the taste of pumpkin to my actual tea.

While ordering more masala chai from adagio tea, I decided to try their pumpkin spice tea after reading positive online reviews.
I don't know if I actually taste pumpkin, but there is a sweetness similar to one found in rooibis. It makes for a nice autumn tea and will complement many spiced baked treats.
(Sorry for the rather blah photos.)

Last week I baked chocolate chip pumpkin bread using a recipe I found on Pinterest. My family liked it, but I felt it was just "okay." The chocolate overshadowed the pumpkin taste in my opinion. So this weekend, I baked my tried and true recipe for pumpkin "cake."  I make it several times each year. I omit the cream cheese frosting, cut into squares and just sprinkle powdered sugar on top. It makes for the perfect seasonal morning baked treat.

Here's the recipe from Cookies, Cookies, Cookies Any Day Treats by Better Homes and Gardens

2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 16 oz can pumpkin
1 cup cooking oil (I used canola.)
4 beaten eggs
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

~In a large mixing bowl stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and cloves. Stir in the pumpkin, cooking oil, and eggs till thoroughly combined. If desired, stir in the walnuts
~Spread batter into an ungreased 15x10x1 inch baking pan. *I did spray a regular 13x9 glass baking pan.*

~ Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or till a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Sift powdered sugar on top. Cut into bars. Store covered in the refrigerator.

In two weeks I will reveal the wonderful lady who gifted me with this beautiful white tea cup along with many other amazing treasures.

While this may appear to be just leaves on the ground, it is a very welcome sight to us. You can see the ground is wet! We had our first real rain showers since March. Our drought stricken lawns and gardens are soaking in this marvelous rain! I'm enjoying it so much too. Love staying in my pajamas and reading a good book on the weekends.

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."
                                           ~Albert Camus

Have a wonderful week,
Nora

I'm bringing my teacup to these parties:

Bernideen's Tea Time

No Place Like Home

Antiques and Teacups

Martha's Favorites