Autumn pumpkin bread

DEAR HELOISE >> The fall season is here, and there is nothing I love more than this time of year, when all the leaves change color. It puts me in a baking mood!

We have a street party in October every year, and this year, I want to bake about five loaves of your pumpkin bread to take to the street party. Sadly, I’ve lost the recipe. Would you reprint the recipe for us autumn lovers who enjoy all things “pumpkin”?

— Lorie B., Independence, Missouri

1 2/3 cups flour

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup salad oil

1 cup canned pumpkin Sift dry ingredients together. Add nuts and mix well. Set aside. Combine remaining ingredients and add combination to dry ingredients. Mix just enough to blend. Pour into a 9”x5”x3” greased and floured loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 60-75 minutes.

Do you enjoy easy to make recipes that have people asking for seconds? If that’s you’re type of recipe, then you’ll love my “Heloise’s Baking Soda Hints and Recipes.” Not only is it filled with hints to help keep your home looking and smelling fresh and clean, it also contains recipes that are tasty, easy to make and fun to serve.

To get a copy, just go to Heloise.com or send $5 along with a stamped (84 cents), self-addressed long envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001.

Believe me, it’s always nice to have helpful hints at your fingertips when you need them.

Health bars

DEAR HELOISE >> A fair number of my friends are big on these health bars for energy, and yet not one has ever read the label. Most are filled with salt, fat, sugar of some kind and preservatives. That’s not my idea of healthy.

Yes, some are low in sugar while some are low in fat, but the majority are just candy bars. If you want an energy boost, try a banana, Greek yogurt or even a handful of walnuts, almonds or pecans. Less fat, less sugar and much healthier for you.

— Meghan E., Sun Valley, Nevada

Cookie monster

DEAR HELOISE >> For people like me, the coming holidays mean one important thing: cookies! I love to bake, and I know several others who enjoy it, too. So, when the holidays are approaching, we get together and exchange recipes, but the real fun is bringing cookies that were produced from said recipe.

The cookies are laid out on a long table with a note card stating the name of that cookie and several photocopies of the recipe under the plate. We all have coffee and discuss the cookies we made and why we chose to bring the cookies we made.

It’s really fun, and I have a lot of great recipes to use for upcoming holiday parties.