pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 c. flour (I used to use 2 c. unbleached flour and 1/2 c. whole wheat flour.  Now I use 2 c. rice flour blend, 1/4 c. ground flax meal, 1/4 c. coconut flour, 1/2 t. xanthan gum)

1 t. baking powder

1 t. soda

3/4 t. salt

1 1/2 t. pumpkin pie spice

1/2 c. butter, room temp.

1 c. sucanat

1/4 c. raw sugar

1 egg

1/2 t. vanilla

1 c. pumpkin puree

1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

Heat oven to 350.  Whisk flour, baking powder, soda, salt, spice together in a bowl.  In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugars.  Beat in egg, vanilla and pumpkin.  Add flour mixture and stir.  Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if using.  Drop onto ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 10-12 minutes.  Makes 3 dozen.  And you'll be glad - they go fast!

I've made these cookies alot, but this is the first I used "real" pumpkin puree.  I'm not sure I notice a big difference in flavor.  But, the color of the puree is what gets me.  Fresh pumpkin puree is yellow-orange, not brown from the can.  Who knew? :)

I'm hooked.  I got 9 1/2 cups of pumpkin puree from 4 pie pumpkins, which cost me $1!!!  And I froze them in 1 cup measurements, because these cookies are a favorite in our home.

To make pumpkin puree, I followed http://annies-eats.com/2010/09/23/homemade-pumpkin-puree/.  
And I still have all my fingers, which was, really, the big accomplishment :)

Andy sent me these words this week. I keep reading over them.
Praying. Repenting. Trusting.  

Pictures taken today.  Views from our house and the first snowfall of the year.

as long as You are glorified

by: Mark Alrogge

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings,
yet not welcome any pain?
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine,
yet grumble in days of rain?
Shall I love You in times of plenty,
then leave You in days of drought?
Shall I trust when I reap the harvest,
but when winter winds blow, then doubt?

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper,
and true only when I’m filled?
Are You King only when I’m carefree,
and God only when I’m well?
You are good when I’m poor and needy;
You are true when I’m parched and dry.
You still reign in the deepest valley;
You’re still God in the darkest night.

So quiet my restless heart,
quiet my restless heart,
quiet my restless heart…in You.