Pumpkin Harvest Cookies (Kerstin's Sweet Spicy Goodness)

Recipe status: These are the ultimate health nut harvest cookie. There is no sugar other than the natural sugar in the pumpkin (and the sugar from the morsels). It's almost like having one of those nature bars, or a very chewy granola bar. I will definitely be packing these on my hikes.

1 small can pumpkin

1 stick butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

(or 1/2 tsp each nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger & allspice)

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup wheat flour

1 cup flour

1 cup combination of any of the following: Chopped pecans, walnuts or cashews, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, golden raisins, craisins or raisins *

1 cup butterscotch or cinnamon morsels, carob or chocolate chips

Blend pumpkin and butter. Mix in egg & vanilla. Add dry ingredients until completely blended. Fold in remaining nuts, berries & morsels.

Drop by spoonfuls on a baking sheet about an inch apart. These hardly spread, so press them down a bit. Bake @ 375° for 12-15 minutes, depending on size. I've been told these freeze well. Not sure of these will last long enough to find out.

*In addition to the 1 cup, I also added a cup of uncooked 9 grain cereal (looks like oats) & a handful of shredded zucchini because I so desired. Had I had any flaked coconut left, I'd have added that also. Not the sweetened coconut, but the dried shaved coconut from the bulk bin at the health food store. That would have been amazing.

Better than Sex cake

Recipe status: NOTHING is better than sex! 

(Although the cake is good.)

Song: Conflict - The Azoic

One chocolate cake mix (the chocolatier the better)

1 20 oz bottle Smuckers caramel topping

1 small container whipped cream

About 2 dozen mini Heath bars, chopped

Bake cake as directed on package. (The best is chocolate fudge, or triple chocolate. Just plain milk chocolate won't taste as good.) Once cake is cooled, poke holes about an inch apart all over the cake, and pour the caramel over the cake. Use a spatula to guide the caramel down into the holes, not letting it pour over the side of the cake. Once holes are filled, spread whipped cream over cake, then sprinkle with the chopped Heath bars. Store in the fridge.

*Note* A lot of recipes also call for a can of sweetened condensed milk. Don't go there. It's too rich, too heavy, too sugary, too fattening, and you'll feel sick to your stomach, and in absolutely no mood for sex... ;)