1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
2/3 cup water
2 cups canned pumpkin
3 1/3 cups sifted all-purpose flour (sift, then measure)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup diced walnuts or pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour four (1-pound) coffee cans (or two standard bread pans).

In a mixing bowl, combine oil, eggs, water and pumpkin.

In another bowl, sift together flour, salt, nutmeg, baking soda, cinnamon and sugar. Make a well in center of dry ingredients and add pumpkin mixture. Blend until dry ingredients are moist. Stir in raisins and nuts. Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Cool briefly in cans or pans before turning out onto a rack.