Warm pumpkin bread is a classic taste of fall

Dear Heloise: With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I’d like to serve some pumpkin bread, but I don’t have a good recipe. Can you help me with this? — Sophie L., Macon, Ga.

Sophie, I have a very good recipe that’s easy to make and delicious:

1 ⅔ cups flour

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup chopped pecans 2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 cup salad oil

1 cup canned pumpkin

Sift together dry ingredients. Add nuts and mix well. Set aside. Combine remaining ingredients and add to dry ingredients. Mix just enough to blend. Pour into 9-by-5-by-3-inch pan that is greased and floured. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-75 minutes. There’s nothing like a warm slice of pumpkin bread to bring back the taste and smell of an autumn day. — Heloise

Dear Heloise: I’ve been told by a dietitian that one cup of green tea has less caffeine than one cup of “decaf ” coffee. Can you tell me if that is true? — Marilyn and Jerry, via email

Marilyn and Jerry, according to the Mayo Clinic, the caffeine content of a drink varies due to several factors, such as origin, processing and more. However, it offers as a guideline the following information: 8 ounces of brewed decaf has 2-5 milligrams of caffeine, while 8 ounces of brewed green tea has 25-29 milligrams of caffeine. This refers to green tea, which is not decaffeinated. — Heloise

Dear Readers: We had a lot of letters concerning a recent recipe for Swedish meatballs, most of which were accompanied by an old (and delicious-looking) family recipe, but none of them were alike:

Arlene N. wrote: “Your meatballs seem more Italian than Swedish.”

“Swedish meatballs” seems to be a generic term for many meatball recipes out there, but the ones sent in all sound wonderful! So, whatever you call your meatballs, “bon appetit.” — Heloise