Pumpkin Baking Recipes

The smell of pumpkin baking always conjures up memories of Thanksgiving for me. The day always started early with mom bustling about the kitchen to prepare our feast. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade would always be playing in the background as she'd prepare the meal. We'd stop to watch or listen to some of the marching bands and acts they had. But always, always, would we stop to watch Santa coming down the street on his sleigh. To this day, the smells of turkey, cranberry, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and pumpkin all blending in a beautiful medley of smells brings a smile of memory to my face. Those special Thanksgiving feasts and that special time with mom are memories that last a lifetime. I hope you enjoy these fun and unique pumpkin recipes during this holiday season.

Golden Pumpkin Cookies

1 1/3 cups sugar

1/3 cup shortening

3 beaten eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1 cup canned pumpkin

Cream together sugar and shortening. Add eggs and vanilla. Add in flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Mix in lemon juice, rind, raisins, nuts, and pumpkin. Drop by teaspoons on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Double Decker Pumpkin Pie

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 tablespoon half-and-half

1 tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 cups thawed whipped topping

1 (6 ounce) graham cracker pie crust

1 cup cold half-and-half

1 package (4 serving size) vanilla flavor instant pudding

1 can (16 ounces) pumpkin

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Whisk the cream cheese, 1 tablespoon half-and-half, and sugar in a large bowl until the mixture is smooth. Add in the whipped topping. Spread this mixture over the bottom of the crust. Combine the 1 cup half-and-half and the pudding mix in the bowl. Beat well for 1 to 2 minutes (the mixture should be thick). Add in the pumpkin and the spices. Mix well. Spread this mixture over the cream cheese mixture already in the crust. Put in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours. To serve, add a dollop of whipped topping to each slice and a few toasted pecans. Serves 8.

Jill Seader loves baking and telling stories. Come find a tasty baking recipe and story at her website, YourBakingStory.com or share one of your own. Happy Baking!

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How To Bake The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are the most basic and common cookies that you can find at any bakery shops yet only several of them really stand out. Mine did, so here I am to help you bring out the real 'thing' in your own chocolate chip cookie recipe.

1) Not all butter is the same. The best kind of butter that you want to use for your recipe would be the unsalted butter. In my case, I use the ones from Anchor, the brand of the butter.

2) Don't take too much time mixing the wet ingredients. The key to this is to first blend in the butter evenly, then mix the other ingredients with high speed.The faster, the better. This is to prevent any air that would enter the mix.

3) Remember to always preheat the oven first, about 20 minutes.

4) The temperature for any recipe can always be manipulated. Preferably, use mid-low temperature, for the dough to be cooked evenly.

5) Don't depend on the recipe itself on how long you should bake for a batch. You should determine this yourself by checking the cookies' colour. Up till now, I still don't know how long would it take to bake a batch of cookies using my secret recipe.

6) Always let the cookies cool. Can't stress this enough.

7) I presume all of you know that the darker the colour of the vanilla extract, the better, right?

8) Always sift the flour, you might not want those small unknown particles in your cookies and serve them to your guests/customers.

9) Let the dough aside for awhile after mixing everything altogether including the chocolate chip cookies. The result of this if the dough will turn firm and it will be much easier for you to arrange the balls of dough on the tray. Plus, it wouldn't turn out as much flat.

10) Remember to always mix the dry ingredients evenly, with your bare hands. Yes, you got that right.

11) How about salt? Never follow the recipe directly. Salt is not needed as much as baking cakes. A pinch will do the work, just to balance out the taste evenly.

So five secrets to perfect chocolate chip cookies! The tips given are based on my long experience. Follow them and see what I meant. Remember to keep in touch for more exclusive cookie-baking tips from me! http://www.afookies.blogspot.com

Amir Fikri is an experienced baker who bakes cookies for his growing business, A-Fookies! He has been baking long enough to get customers coming by to pay for his delicious homemade cookies! Stay in touch with him with his business blog, http://www.afookies.blogspot.com

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Bake Perfect Cookies on a Non-Stick Cookie Sheet

Even if you have all required ingredients and use the proper recipe to bake cookies, the absence or improper selection of a cookie sheet can not only ruin their taste but also their shape. Using proper tools and bake ware can help you in making the perfect cookies with the ultimate taste. A large variety of these sheets are available on the market to assist you in the baking process. Using a cookie sheet for baking cookies helps to make sure that your time, effort and ingredients do not go to waste.

These sheets are also known as baking sheets or oven trays. Some of the types being offered in the market include insulated, silicon, aluminum and stainless steel. With various varieties available, non stick oven trays are also available in various designs and styles to suit different ovens and baking needs. These are designed in a way that when the baking product is ready it won't be stuck to the tray or you won't have to put oil on it to ease the baked goodies off the trays.

The use of traditional oven trays requires you to oil these, so that your cookies don't get stuck to the tray. The use of such trays also leaves some food behind because of the sticky surface. In contrast, baking is made much easier and convenient with the use of non stick utensils. The non stick items and their excellent features make the cooking process easier. Superior quality materials are used in the production of these items to ensure that everything is evenly cooked. Some models of bake ware have two aluminum sheets that have a layer of air between the two. The purpose of this is to reduce the metal temperature and to ensure that each cookie gets the same amount of heat.

Such features reduce the chances or likelihood of burnt cookies and makes sure that cookies do not get over done or burn. The use of such trays not only helps you bake in lesser time, but also provides you with great taste and experience. Non stick surfaced oven sheets are expensive compared to the conventional ones but investing in them can make your cooking experience an ultimate one. Choosing the right non stick sheet is essential and baking enthusiasts swear by these as an essential kitchen item.

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