And once again the weekend has vanished into thin air!
Overall, it was a pretty low key weekend:
– a long run on Saturday
– a new cookie recipe (see below!)
– grocery shopping, errands, gas tank filled (all that good stuff)
– and phone calls with friends and family–always a good thing! 🙂
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I am highlighting some new products I’ve tried recently.
Ghirardelli – Twilight Delight Dark Chocolate
I don’t think I could ever go back to milk chocolate after having good dark chocolate! It is hard to compare one dark chocolate to the next, but just know this is a good one. I don’t know that it is my favorite, but I won’t say “no” to a piece of it! 😉
Kettle Tias! – Nacho Cheddar
These tasted just like Doritos Nacho Cheese chips! Cheesy and full of nacho flavor. I have to admit though, I am not a big fan of Doritos’ chips, so I didn’t really get into these, but Craig sure likes them!
Terra Sweet Potato Chips
These chips were awesome! They were light and crunchy–not heavy like kettle-cooked chips are. The sweet potato flavor was definitely there but it was not overpowering. I loved how crinkly they all were. They were really crunchy when I ate them!
Celestial Seasonings – Peppermint Tea
Tastes just like a peppermint candy cane! I like the calming effects that peppermint and ginger have on my stomach, so I like having this after a meal.
Mott’s – Fresh Pressed Apple Juice
I think most apple juices from concentrate are okay, but this one was definitely a step up. Not the best I’ve ever had but much better than most “regular” apple juices!
This morning I tried Mamma Pea’s Pumpkin Spice Latte. Lattes are expensive and full of sugary syrups, so when I saw this cheap and healthy creation, I was all for it!
What a great recipe is was–not too sweet and full of creamy milk with a hint of pumpkin flavor. I couldn’t really taste my coffee, so I think I’ll have to experiment with that next time. 
And if there hasn’t been enough pumpkin recipes floating around the blog world, here’s another one for ya!
Soft Pumpkin Spice Cookies
These are definitely the most moist cookies I have ever made! It was like eating a really good, rich, moist cake with the frosting on top. One for the good ol’ sweet tooth for sure!
Soft Pumpkin Spice Cookies
(Based off this recipe.)
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
1/2 cup butter, slightly melted
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground all-spice
1 (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (16 oz. container) vanilla frosting
Directions
1. Cream together shortening, butter, and sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla, then stir in the pumpkin puree.
2. In a separate bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. Add to wet ingredients and mix until combined.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat cookie sheet with cooking spray.
4. Form dough into a balls and place on cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are browned.
6. Allow to cool completely. Frost cookies.
I did cheat on the frosting because I’ve had this container of frosting in my pantry forever!
I’m off to bed–see you tomorrow!
Dark chocolate rules. Truly! Except now I’m craving some and there’s none in the house, sigh, sigh.
Can’t wait to try the cookies. I went to a nutrition meeting here at the Seward school district and the parents were talking about eliminating desserts from school lunches, and I was like no, no: Sometimes dessert is the only thing that gets you through.
Cheers (I miss the running on the Coastal Trail. Do a couple of miles for me, okay?)
Those cookies look delicious. I may have to try making them. You can never go wrong with pumpkin. 🙂
most of the cooklies are already gone that i brought to work. great job again honey.
dark chocolate is the BEST!