It all started with the Pumpkin Spice Latte.  My love of pumpkin is no secret to those close to me.  My beautiful mother in law began to call me P.G. (pumpkin girl) after the 3rd or 4th time I brought baked pumpkin goods to their house.  So the day the Pumpkin Spice Latte came out at Starbucks, I went completely mental.  I drank it all the time, I made pumpkin cookies, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin muffins.  So naturally anytime any PF’s (pumpkin fanatics) like myself came to Starbucks with loaded enthusiasm, I shared a moment with them.  I could see the desire in their eyes and the undying devotion in their hearts.  We bonded.  

One day, as I was expressing my love of all things pumpkin to Kathi, a fellow lover of baked fall goods, she told me she had something for me: a recipe (my favorite kind of gift).  The result was a delicious baked good called Harvest Bread.  Now, harvest bread has no pumpkin in it, but the spices and texture resemble that of pumpkin bread, and the taste is exquisite.  

So, Kathi, this is dedicated to you.  

Ingredients: 

• 3 cups sugar
• ¾ cups oil
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups mashed yams
• 1 6-oz can frozen orange juice
• 3 ½ cups self-rising flour
• 1 ½ tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ½ tsp all spice
• 1 cup chopped nuts

• Mix your sugar and oil in a mixer and blend it up good. I mean really good.  We’re talking homogenous mixture here. 

• Add your little egglets one at a time.  These guys deserved family photo before they were split apart, taken from their home one by one, and broken while their guts spilled out.  They never had a chance.  

• Add yer yams and orange juice concentrate.  The orange adds such a nice touch. 

• Mix your dry ingredients in a bowl.  The good part about the dry ingredient bowl is that it’s so easy to wash.  Simple cleanliness.  Such joy.  
• Mix the wet and dry ingredients, and pour them into small loaf pans, muffin tins, or large loaf pans.  I did some small and large loaves just to be versatile.  
• Bake at 350 for 45 minutes for the larger loaves (sometimes longer depending on how large), and about 35-40 minutes for the smaller guys.  

Just a note.  These Tbsp/tsp measurements are one of the best things in my kitchen (besides the owls), one of my best friends Emily gave them to me as a wedding gift.  Shell done emily, shell done. 

Voila! 

The Great Pumpkin Party that soon followed the Great Harvest Bread.  We carved pumpkins, watched The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and ate said bread.  

Phil, carefully and quietly working on his pumpkin.  Since he had never done one before, he dedicated himself like a master sculptor would have.  

Taylor, and her stick figure pumpkin man.  

Notice the heater beside Daisy.  We do it big on the Works porch.  

We made a small mess on our front porch.  It may or may not be permanently stained.  

My robot with his heart.  The tin man would’ve been proud.  

Tay’s Pearl Jam album cover. 

Josh’s cross pumpkin.  

Daisy’s mushroom.  1up

Phil’s masterpiece.  Mr. ‘I’ve never carved a pumpkin before.’ 

The beast’s pumpkin.  He knows I love owls.  

Daisy ‘owl’ing.  I greatly prefer this to planking.