Pumpkin Bread

This bread is best made with Chinese Five Spices. Find it in the oriental section of your grocery store.

3 1/2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. Chinese Five Spices or cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

3 c. sugar

4 eggs

1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin

1 c. oil

2/3 c. water

1 c. chopped walnuts

Topping:

2 T. melted butter

2 T. sugar

1/2 tsp. Chinese Five Spices or cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Combine dry ingredients together; mix well; set aside. Combine sugar, eggs, pumpkin, oil and water; mix well. Add walnuts. Add to dry ingredients and stir only until incorporated. Bake in 2 greased bread pans (9x5-inch) for 45-60 minutes, or until tests done with toothpick. Leave in pan 10 minutes; remove.

For topping, brush tops of bread with butter. Combine sugar and Chinese Five Spices and sprinkle over butter. Continue cooling on wire racks.

Optional: Serve this bread with whipped butter: In mixer, beat 1 pound softened real butter for about a minute. Slowly add 3/4 c. oil (sunflower, corn, or light-tasting olive oil). Continue to beat on high for about 5 minutes.