SPICED PUMPKIN BREAD WITH ORANGE CREAM CHEESE

"For holiday gift giving, place wrapped bread in a decorative basket along with a container of Orange Cream Cheese."

1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/4 cups plus 3 tablespoons sugar, divided use
1 cup sold pack pumpkin
1 egg
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup dried currants
1/2 cup chopped pecans
FOR THE ORANGE CREAM CHEESE:
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1 to 2 teaspoons milk (as needed)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x4-inch loaf pan.

Using an electric mixer, beat butter and 1 1/4 cups sugar until light; add pumpkin and egg, mixing well; set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and baking powder; gradually add to butter mixture, mixing until well blended. Stir in currants and pecans. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 to 1 1/4 hours our until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 15 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely on wire rack. Serve with Orange Cream Cheese.

TO MAKE THE ORANGE CREAM CHEESE:
In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, vanilla, and orange peel. Stir until smooth. Stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons milk to make spreading consistency.

Source: Spice Islands