Try a New Recipe Thursdays - Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Icing

I've decided to start a new feature to share some of my favorite recipes. Here is a yummy one for fall weekends that is so easy, and it was a big hit at a World Series gathering we attended last night.

Pumpkin Bars:
2 cups pumpkin
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cups canola oil
2 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
1 t baking soda
2 cups flour

Cream Cheese Icing:
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
3/4 stick butter, softened
1 2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 T milk
(you can also cheat with a store-bought variety)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix together pumpkin, sugar and oil. Sift flour, salt, cinnamon and baking soda and add it to the pumpkin mixture. Bake in an ungreased medium-sized jelly roll pan for 25-30 minutes. A fork should come out clean when it is done.

Beat softened cream cheese and butter. Add powdered sugar and milk and beat until smooth and creamy. Allow bars to cool before frosting them. Add a piece of candy corn or a mini candy pumpkin for a garnish if you wish. Store bars in the fridge until you are ready to serve them.