Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling

"Just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber,
you go and do something like this...

[photo from here]

...and TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!"

This here is a story about redemption. And about not letting the world your kitchen have the last word.

For reasons unbeknownst to me, "control-z" doesn't carry over to real life. But don't let that stop you. Found the melted butter in the microwave and realized you forgot to put butter in the brownies? No biggie. Homemade Chocolate Cake looked like a hot mess by the time you were able to de-pan it? Ain't no thang. Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Ribbon overflowed in the oven? Doesn't phase me. [All spoken from experience.]

Still bruised from my latest kitchen snafu, while at home for Thanksgiving, I decided I would have the last word when it came to pumpkin desserts. No one wants to be a prisoner in their own kitchen. That ain't right. So I say, go out and conquer a recipe/ingredient/technique that has otherwise eluded you. You might be surprised at the outcome.

This pumpkin roll is simple, elegant, and is a definite crowd-pleaser. The best part is it is effortless. Just a little rolling and confidence is all that's required. If you're trying to get a few more holiday recipes in before 2012, this is a great place to start.

Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Ribbon

There are Bad Days. We've all been there. Bad work days. Bad hair days (bad bang days for me, these days).  Bad hangnail days. Bad travel days. Bad TV days (Dear Kim Kardashian: I want those three hours I spent watching your wedding back. And also that entire Sunday I spent glued to E! catching up on your life's happenings in advance of your wedding extravaganza - oh no, have I revealed too much about my single girl behavior? - please and thank you.)

There are Bad Days.

And then there are Bad Baking Days.

The onset of fall was filled with such promise. Leaves turning absolutely gorgeous shades of orange, yellow, and red. Crisp, cool air and peacoats and scarves and tights. Grocery stores stocked with apples, gourds, and canned pumpkin.

I should have known better. I made this recipe at around this time last year. And what happened last year? I put too much batter in the bread pan and my pumpkin bread overflowed in the oven. Like, major. What I failed to do last year was write myself a note on my recipe, reminding me DON'T FILL THE BATTER TOO HIGH, ALEXIS! WOULDN'T WANT ANOTHER EPISODE LIKE THE PUMPKIN BREAD DISASTER OF 2010, NOW WOULD WE?!

Lots of things come into and go out of my brain in a year. Important things like the lyrics to every single Spring Awakening song, the entire Hunger Games series, and Kim's Fairytale Wedding. So when I opened a new can of pumpkin last week, it's completely 100% understandable that I forgot my previous flub.

The parts of this bread that were edible were absolutely delicious. And I think you should go make it. Right after you delete anything Kardashian-related from your DVR. Like, immediately.