Day 50

I didn't have a chance to post yesterday (it's "mid-term season" so I've been super busy with studying and homework.) But besides all of my school work, I am managing to fit in some time to make delicious pumpkin chocolate-chip cookies today! It will be a nice break in between reading and also, they are the perfect treat for this time of the year. Oh and one more thing, they are even better when you surprise someone with them!

(This isn't my recipe but it is pretty close to the one I use:)

INGREDIENTS

* 1 cup shortening

* 2 cups white sugar

* 2 eggs

* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

* 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree

* 4 cups all-purpose flour

* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

* 1 pinch ground nutmeg

* 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the vanilla and pumpkin until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg; stir into the pumpkin mixture. Mix in the chocolate chips. Stir in the walnuts if desired. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.

3. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until edges begin to brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets before removing to wire racks to cool completely.