It's pumpkin roll season...

One of my favorite things to make with pumpkin, even more scrumptious that pumpkin pie!  This is the time of year when pumpkins are harvested and if you let yours sit out on your front porch like we did...don't let it sit too long, or it will freeze and then you won't want to eat it.

We're starting here with pictures of the finished product and going backwards...sliced, cooled, baked, mixed, pureed the pumpkin in my food processor, baked the pumpkin itself for a little over an hour at 325'F, opening the pumpkin...

for the cake (it's really like a thin sponge cake):

• 1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves (I didn't have this, so used nutmeg)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup pureed baked pumpkin
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan; line with parchment paper.  Sprinkle a thin, cotton kitchen towel with powdered sugar. 
2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts. 
3. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together. Allow it to cool completely before adding filling.

for the filling:

• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake. Refrigerate at least one hour before trying to slice, or the slices won't be a pretty swirl, rather a smooshed oval (although it would still taste good, I'm sure).

A bit of silliness.

Yes, we had a bit of fun with our pumpkin...it was quite heavy to try to balance upon your head!