Martha & Pumpkin are BACK!

I've been anxiously waiting for Martha's new season to premiere. I was disappointed to discover that not only has she changed stations but time slots too. I used to catch her while doing paperwork on certain days at 10am on ABC. I went to tune in on Sept 15th and Bonnie Hunt was there instead!! Now, I have nothing against Bonnie but where was Martha? Well, she moved to 11am on NBC. She may not be the best live talk show host (sometimes I find her commentary a little awkward and borderline rude) but I love her ideas ... especially decor, crafts, and recipes. So far the new season hasn't impressed me as much as past seasons but I'll stick around.

FALL is here!!


Which means ... pumpkin recipes!!
For the past few years I've made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies using this recipe:

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margerine, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 can (15 ounces) 100% pure pumpkin
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (I leave these out)

Preheat oven to 375. Grease baking sheets. Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in pumpkin, eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely. Spread or drizzle with vanilla glaze (see below).

Vanilla Glaze:
Combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons milk and 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract in small bowl; mix well.

They are great with or without the glaze.

This year I decided to try Martha's Pumpkin-Chocolate-Chip Squares. I'm not sure why her site says they'll take 2 hours and 30 minutes because they certainly didn't take that long. Maybe that includes waiting for the butter to come to room temp? The prep was less than 30 minutes and they baked for 35 minutes.

I forgot to take a pic of mine but they turned out beautifully. Mine were more cake-like than the picture on her website. The friends and family we shared them with enjoyed them as much as the pumpkin choc chip cookies I've made in previous years. Not only were they a hit but they also took less time overall than the cookies do. I'll be making them again soon!