Life's indulgences

Sometimes... you just have to give in to life's indulgences.

If you haven't already noticed, mine happens to be anything and everything pumpkin (at least for this season, next season I'll get back to you with the latest and greatest find!) But for now, I am taking the opportunity of this wonderful autumn season to enjoy this indulgence and share it with others.

A-ha. That's the important part. "Indulging" is probably associated with greed or selfish behavior, but putting it into this new context, one in which you share that indulgence with others, now suddenly you are a participator in the pay-it-forward mantra.

It's the perfect solution when you think about it - find something you enjoy and love so much that you want to share it with everyone you know!

Today was filled with lots of pumpkin-y goodness. The highlight? Pumpkin spice coffee purchased from World Market. With a splash of skim milk, it was the perfect start to a magnificent Monday. Accompanying the coffee, of course, was a delicious pumpkin chocolate chip cookie (shared with three friends throughout the course of the day!) Now that is what I call a deliciously satisfying way to pay-it-forward. And, it is important to highlight the second cup of coffee of my day was a surprise iced-soy-pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. Thank you to my wonderful roommate for enjoying the indulgent pay it forward love!

What's your indulgence?


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Welcome to Pumpkin Season!

As I am sitting here enjoying an iced soy pumpkin spice latte, I decided it was only appropriate to blog about  one thing - In the spirit of the autumn season and everything pumpkin, I am going to use the month of October as an opportunity to share anything and everything about this delicious flavor! For starters, here is the recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies (that I shared this time last year.) Enjoy!

If you happen to make any of the recipes I share, or have you pumpkin products of your own, please share them here! As always you can email any photos or ideas to TheDailyChallengeBlog@gmail.com as well.

Happy Pumpkin Season!

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.