Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Although it is still August, this past Wednesday definitely had the feeling of autumn in the air.  Gorgeous sunshine, cool breezes...just a perfect day.

Maddie decided to do some baking.  The girls had a pool party to attend the next day, and it was actually cool enough to put the oven on!

She decided on Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (taken from the Gooseberry Patch Sweet & Simple cookbook).

These are the baked cookies.  They're very soft--they don't brown too much.  So chewy and delicious--and they come right up off the pan.

Thank goodness she made a double batch! ;)  They taste like fall, and while I'm not trying to wish away the summer, I'm really looking forward to autumn baking!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 egg

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 t vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

1 t nutmeg

1 t cinnamon

6 oz chocolate chips

Optional: chopped nuts

Cream butter and sugar together; set aside.  Combine egg, pumpkin, and vanilla; blend into creamed mixture and set aside. Mix dry ingredients together; blend into pumpkin mixture. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a lightly greased baking sheets; bake at 350 degrees until lightly golden, about 8 minutes (we ended up doing 12, actually). Makes about 3 1/2 dozen.