1 c. butter, softened
3 c. sugar
3 eggs
3 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. chopped pecans

Cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Combine next 7 ingredients; add to creamed mixture alternately with pumpkin, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in vanilla and pecans. Spoon into greased and floured pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans (4 loaves).

Variation: Omit vanilla and cloves and increase nutmeg to 1 teaspoon.