Purfect Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 4 eggs, separated
• 2 cups pumpkin, canned
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/3 cup water
• 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
• 1 teaspoon flax seed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup pecans (optional) or walnuts, chopped (optional)
• 2/3 cup dried cranberries (optional) or raisins (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   *Cream together oil & sugars at medium speed with an electric hand mixer.

2. 2

   *Add egg yolks - one at a time, beating after each addition.

3. 3

   *Stir in canned pumpkin, water, & milk.

4. 4

   *Combine flour & the next 5 ingredients in a separate mixing bowl, and add to the creamed mixture, a little at a time – mixing well.

5. 5

   *Add in Vanilla and the flax seed, - blend.

6. 6

   *Meanwhile, beat the egg whites with hand mixer until stiff, (make sure to use clean beaters), whites will form meringue peaks.

7. 7

   *Next, gently stir in dried raisins or cranberries, and nuts into the batter.

8. 8

   *Fold the meringue gently into the pumpkin bread batter.

9. 9

   *Spoon batter into greased & floured loaf pans.

10. 10

    *Bake at 350° for 1 hour, or until a toothpick when inserted in the center of the loaves, comes out clean.

11. 11

    *Cool loaves on wire racks.