Ok, if you read "Reason's I like Fall" then you understand that I have this thing for Pumpkin, especially this time of year.  Here is a recipe for a very tasty (and easy) pumpkin roll that looks absolutely beautiful on the plate and you can make it the day before.  I also make this for the Mother's Day Brunch that I have every year.

I started having a brunch for my mom about 11 yrs ago when I realized this woman has everything.  I was going through a divorce and didn't have much money, so I decided to cook brunch as a gift for my mom.  The food was good, but mostly it was about the companionship, we sat around the table giggling for hours.  My sister, niece, SIL's and mom came to my house and I broke out the china and crystal with real silverware.  I don't do much fancy entertaining and the china had been a graduation gift so this was probably the first time it was ever used.  Anyway, this has turned into an annual celebration and my mom loves to brag about how her daughters throw her a brunch each Mother's Day.  The menu has changed and become more elaborate until the brunch now costs significantly more to host than it did the first year.  But there are staples on the menu, items that have been served at past brunches and are requested at the planning of the next brunch.  The staples are:

Spinach Quiche

Raspberry Soup - sounds funny, but this cold soup is very yummie

Pumpkin Rolls

Coconut Shrimp

The guys look forward to this brunch as much as the Ladies do as "To Go" boxes are sent home for them to sample the wares - only they have to use paper and plastic to eat it, or fingers if they want.  The planning part now starts in April and we print menu's that sit on each plate (we just download some clipart, use Word and some fancy cardstock).  Each year we pick one particular food that is highlighted throughout the meal and every dish includes that food item (except the requested items above).  We have highlighted tomatoes, spinach, pecans, peaches, bacon and chicken at different brunches.  It is quite fun to pick a particular food and then see what recipe's you can come up with that contain it (the tomato brunch is my all time favorite).  Half the fun is in the planning and preparing as hubby and kido's vacate the house and sister and 21 yr old niece come spend the night the night before the brunch.  We fix our favorite tasty beverage (with alcohol) and get to chopping, mixing, baking and planning exactly how we are going to decorate the table and in what order we are going to serve the food.  Everyone's life has gotten so busy, with raising children and running businesses that this is really a good time to connect and just have a giggle fest both the night before and the day of.