Favorite Fall/Holiday Foods

There are some foods that I just don't eat (or can't even get) until the fall/holiday season. Here are a list of my favorites:

1. Pumpkin: This really should go without saying. I LOVE me some pumpkin everything: Starbucks lattes, pie, scones, ravioli,the list could go on and on. Here is a recipe for my favorite pumpkin cookies from Nestlé:

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 margarine, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• VANILLA GLAZE (recipe below)

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease baking sheets.

COMBINE flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter and sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in pumpkin, eggs and vanilla extract. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.

BAKE for 15 to 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle or spread with Vanilla Glaze.

FOR VANILLA GLAZE:  Combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl; mix well.

2. Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes are under-rated. They are not nearly as popular as pumpkin, but I think they are very tasty! Sweet potato pie, sweet potato hash, mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar and marshmallows...Heck, I'll even just bake a sweet potato in the microwave as a snack!

3. Hot Chocolate: Although I sometimes drink hot chocolate at random times in the year because my office at work is quite chilly, I usually only have it when it's really cold out. My favorite kind is the Ghirardelli white chocolate mocha. And if I've got marshmallows on hand (maybe extra from the sweet potatoes, hmm?), those are definitely goin' in there.

4. Peppermint Bark: I like mint-flavored desserts, from Andes mints to ice cream. One time in high school, a friend of mine bought me a tin of Williams-Sonoma peppermint bark, and I've never looked back. Every Christmas, I have to have it.

This list could go on forever, so I think I better stop. What are your favorite holiday foods?