Pumpkin Spice Cookies

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new."  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pumpkin Coffee, Christmas Music, and cookies baking.  It's feeling so cheery in this kitchen.  I started my Thanksgiving baking a little bit early.  I have never tried this recipe before today, but these cookies are so stinkin' good I thought I'd pass the recipe along in case you want to whip up a quick batch along with the rest of your goodies. Pumpkin Pie lovers beware: these are highly addictive.  I did not add glaze to the top of my cookies, but you certainly could if you like.  

Pumpkin Pecan Spice Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/2

cups packed light brown sugar

1/2

cup butter or margarine, softened (I used Crisco Butter Flavored baking Sticks)

2

eggs

1/2

cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

3

teaspoons vanilla

2 3/4

cups Self Rising flour

1

teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2

teaspoon salt

1/2

teaspoon ground ginger

1/4

teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8

teaspoon ground allspice

1/8

teaspoon ground cloves

1 1/3

cups finely chopped pecans

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheet with shortening or cooking spray, or line with cooking parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
• 1In large bowl, beat brown sugar, butter, eggs, pumpkin and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed. Stir in flour and spices. Stir in pecans and baking chips. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet.
• 2Bake 10 to 14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• 3Enjoy, share, repeat.  :)

Baklava

Recipe from Athens Foods

Today is National Baklava Day, in honor of Baklava Day I thought I would share the recipe that I've used.  Baklava is so delicate and rich, my family usually only enjoys this around Christmas.  I know that there are a lot variations, but the recipe below is pretty easy to follow.  A friend of mine uses rose water in her recipe. If you have a favorite Baklava recipe, feel free to share it with me.  If you haven't made Baklava before, it's a lot of fun and I hope you give it a try.  If you've never used Phyllo Dough, the link below has tips you may find helpful.

BAKLAVA 

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Zest of 1 lemon
40 sheets Phyllo Dough (9" x 14"), thawed
Cooking Spray or Melted Butter

In a medium bowl, combine walnuts, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and lemon zest.

SYRUP 

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
2 cups water
1 cup honey
1 lemon peel

Bring all ingredients to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and cool slightly.

Lightly spray a 9" x 13" baking pan with cooking spray. Place 20 sheets of fillo on the bottom of the pan, lightly spraying each sheet with cooking spray as you place in the pan. Cover with 1/2 of the walnut mixture. Layer 5 more fillo sheets on top, lightly spraying each sheet. Spread the remaining half of the walnut mixture over the fillo and cover with another 15 lightly sprayed fillo sheets. With a sharp knife, score fillo into 1 1/2" diamonds or squares. Lightly spray the top with cooking spray so it bakes golden brown.

Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until golden brown.
Cool slightly and pour warm syrup (recipe below) evenly over baklava. Cool completely, cut and serve.

Yield: 30 to 40 small pieces


Additional Tips:

•Keep your Phyllo Dough covered while you are layering your Baklava

•Cover Phyllo completely with plastic wrap, then a damp towel as it dries out quickly.
•Use butter flavored cooking spray, if desired.
•Instead of cooking spray, brush fillo with 1 cup melted butter, if desired.
•Serve à la mode with a scoop of ice cream, or drizzle with chocolate sauce.