Pumpkin Roll

Thanksgiving is not a huge deal for my family. We actually used to spend it in Mexico, but these last couple of years we've been sitting down to an actual Thanksgiving meal. The first time I turkey or stuffing was in high school when we would go to my friend Amanda's house after Thanksgiving and eat all of her mom's leftovers. Gradually my family is learning to make the staple American dishes with some Vietnamese food thrown in (this year we finished up our dinner with my aunt's pho) Pumpkin roll is one of our favorites. It's my job to make it every year, and my sisters also pitch in to help. We use the Libby's pumpkin roll recipe.

Cake

• powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup raw cane sugar
• 2/3 cup pumpkin puree

Filling

• 1 package cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with wax paper and grease the wax paper.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and sugar. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the pumpkin puree and eggs and mix until just combined. Using a spatula, pour and spread evenly into the greased baking pan.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until the middle of the cake springs back when poked. While the cake is in the oven, grab a clean tea towel and sprinkle powdered sugar all over the surface. I use a sifter to do this.

As soon as the cake is done flip it over onto the tea towel, wax paper side up. Then peel the wax paper off of the cake. Finally, roll up the pumpkin roll with the tea towel and set on a wire rack to cool for about 1 hour.

While the cake is cooling, mix together the cream cheese and butter. Then add the vanilla and powdered sugar and mix until creamy and smooth. Once the cake has cooled, unroll it and spread the cream cheese filling all over the surface of the cake.

Then roll once more while peeling off the tea towel. Wrap in plastic wrap and then set in the refrigerator to set for a couple hours. To serve, cut with a serrated knife and arrange on a serving plate.