I love pumpkin. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin spice donuts (from Krispy Kreme), pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin cakes and cookies...

So why on earth can you only find pumpkin things in the fall? Doesn't it taste just as good all year round?

Yes, you can cook your own pumpkin recipes anytime with the wonders of canned pumpkin, but alas, Starbucks only has the pumpkin lattes in Oct/Nov.

I love pumpkin, too! My dad and I used to make pumpkin pies in summer. Every once in a while I'll see one of the local grocery stores making them in the summer, too. Who wouldn't like pumpkin pie in summer? I always keep it in the fridge and top it with cool whip. It tastes best ice cold - perfect for summer!

I'm always disappointed that the pumpkin doughnuts at Krispy Kreme are seasonal as I tend to go about once a month to our local store. And pumpkin ice cream from Cold Stone creamery with some chocolate chips or whipped topping, mmmmm.

Do you have a SuperTarget by you? Ours had these awesome pumpkin and chocolate chip cookies this fall. They were so great warmed a little in the microwave, I'm waiting and waiting for that time of year to roll around and buy them again.

I agree - I love pumpkin! and I love all types of pumpkin dishes and baking!

These are good if you would like to try them:


Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies


* 1 cup shortening
* 2 cups white sugar
* 2 eggs
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
* 4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 pinch ground nutmeg
* 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
* 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)



1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the vanilla and pumpkin until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg; stir into the pumpkin mixture. Mix in the chocolate chips. Stir in the walnuts if desired. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until edges begin to brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

By the way - I don't know if there are any fans out there of bread puddings - BUT - try substituting Krispy Kreme's pumpkin donuts for bread in the recipe!!!

You can get it canned at the grocery store and make your own pumpkin things.

Pumpkin is a long season crop and takes 120+ days to raise. It's a funny business, as they only sell in the fall, and around here in Maryland, you'll see them just going to waste in the fields.

There's this Punkin Chunkin contest on the Delmarva peninsula where they try to use up the waste pumpkins by shooting the pumpkins as far as possible using all kinds of crazy machines. Cannons, catapults, etc.

Check out the Punkin Chunkin Results page. Last years record was 4,331 feet, almost a mile. Oh-my-god