Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

A long, long time ago one of my friends insisted that I try her mom's pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. This was back in the day when I didn't think that I liked things like pumpkin, but that was only because I had only had it in gross things like pumpkin pie (which I am still not a fan of to this day). But then I tried those cookies and I realized I do indeed like pumpkin. A couple of years ago I found a recipe for pumpkin cookies on cooks.com. This isn't the same as the recipe my friend's mom made, but I like the soft, cake-like texture of these cookies. They definitely are helping me get into the mood for Halloween which is one of my favorite holidays even though it isn't really a holiday. Have you figured out your costumes yet? Every year, I promise that the following year I will have some great costume idea and then the day sneaks up on me and I have nothing. I still have no idea what to dress up as this year! Any and all suggestions (especially inexpensive ones) are welcome. Now, I have been known to make tortillas from scratch out of boredom and other crazy things, but this is one of those times that it is perfectly acceptable to buy canned pumpkin...unless you find yourself with a surplus of them after Halloween. If you're like me and just want to get out of the store quickly because it's Friday night and you're exhausted, please make sure you inspect the can and make sure all the edges are even. This will protect you from cut fingers, pumpkin all over your kitchen and general frustration (I'm guessing. I don't follow my own advice so all of the above happened to me). I'm bringing these little treats with me as my friends and I make our way to Disneyland for the day! Hope you're having a great Saturday.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
(From Cooks.com)

1 cup pumpkin
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk
1 cup chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

Dissolve baking soda in milk and set aside. In large bowl whisk together pumpkin, sugar, oil, vanilla, and egg.

In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and then. Stir in the baking soda mixture and then chocolate chips. Spoon onto cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until done.

Amusing pics of my kitchen covered in pumpkin: