(As prepared and read by Alex Tuller for the October 20, 2005 podcast)
Makes two loafs
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups fresh pumpkin puree (drained through cheese cloth for at least 30 minutes)
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs beaten
1/4 cup boiling water
1/4 cup bourbon
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1/2 c chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350. Measure 1/4 cup boiled water into 1 cup measuring cup and add the bourbon and raisins. Let sit for 10 minutes: the longer they sit, to more bourbon flavor the raisins absorb [yum]. Sift flour, salt, sugar and baking soda together. Mix pumpkin, oil, eggs, water/bourbon/raisin mixture and spices together. Then combine with the dry ingredients. Do not over mix, just mix until blended. Stir in the nuts. Pour into very well buttered loaf pans. Bake 50-60 minutes or until a poker comes out clean. Turn out of pan and cool on a rack.