How could I forget...

...how absolutely fabulous these pumpkin cookies are? Allison, will you please post a comment about how you honestly feel about these cookies? And keep your message PG-rated, por favor...


I finally made my first batch of the season tonight since Laurie H. went out and bought the pumpkin for me, hinting (not so subtly) that her family needed some... I wish I could take credit for this most amazing recipe, but I actually stole it from Michelle Bodine from our old ward in Los Altos. My only modification from her version was to eliminate the frosting and add milk and white chocolate chips. So thanks, Michelle! We named our daughter (Charlotte Michelle) after you to express our gratitude!

Pumpkin Cookies

Cream together:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 cup Libby's pumpkin
1 egg

Mix in:

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1 tsp vanilla

Optional (not really) – 1 ½ cups milk chocolate chips, ½ cup white chips. You MUST use Guittard brand milk chocolate chips. If you haven't tried them, you are truly missing out.

Bake on greased cookie sheet (or just use parchment paper) for 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes about 3-4 dozen cookies.

Way better than Playdough...

Scott participated in a week-long camp through the city a month ago. One day he came home with this cool stuff he called Flubber. It was sort a combination of playdough and silly putty, except it didn't smell weird and didn't stick on anything. I found the recipe online and we have LOVED making Flubber ever since! It is a pretty cool science experiement to watch the ingredients react as the mixture comes together. Some of you moms with school-age kids may be saying, "Uh, where has she been? My kids make Flubber all the time at school!" For those of you like me that had never heard of this stuff before, here is the recipe:

Mixture 1:
3/4 cup very warm water
1 cup Elmer's glue (I use 2 4oz. bottles)
Food coloring

Mixture 2:
2 tsp Borax (find it by the laundry detergent)
1/2 cup very warm water

Combine mixture 1 in one bowl and mixture 2 in another bowl. Make sure both are mixed well. Pour mixture 1 into mixture 2 and watch the cool reaction! After a couple of minutes, start working the mixture with your hands. After 2 or 3 more minutes, it will be dry (not sticky) and ready to play with! We love using rolling pins and cookie cutters to make cool shapes. And you can store it in ziploc bags and it will last forever. I read somewhere that if it does stick on anything (which hasn't happened to me) just use regular vinegar to dissolve the stuff.