Pumpkin Praline Torte

This cake can be sliced soon after preparing, but for best results, let it
chill several hours.

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter
3 tablespoons whipping cream
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 (15-ounce) can unsweetened pumpkin
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 3/4 cups whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Combine first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat 5
minutes, stirring constantly, or until sugar dissolves; pour evenly into 2
lightly greased 9-inch round cakepans. Sprinkle 3/4 cup pecans evenly over
brown sugar mixture in pans.

Beat granulated sugar and oil at

medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add eggs, 1 at a time,
beating until blended. Add pumpkin and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, beating just until
blended.

Combine flour and next 4 ingredients; add to pumpkin mixture, beating just
until blended. Spoon over pecans in pans. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until
a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 5
minutes. Carefully loosen cake from edges of pan (do not tear pecans from
cake). Remove cake from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

Beat 1 3/4 cups whipping cream at medium speed until frothy. Add powdered sugar
and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla; beat at medium-high speed until soft peaks form.

Place 1 cake layer, praline side up, on a cake plate. Spread half of whipped
cream over cake layer; top with remaining cake layer, praline side up. Spread
remaining whipped cream over cake layer. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup toasted pecans.
Cover and chill. Store in refrigerator.

Oxmoor House, JULY 2004
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---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
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"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
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