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Hopefully you guys know by now how much I love pumpkin. I've given you a lot of savory recipes because I feel like pumpkin is not recognized enough for it's versatility.

But, I wanted to share with you something I was finally able to achieve. A chewy, not cake like, pumpkin chocolate chip cookie.

Don't get me wrong, I love me a cakey pumpkin chocolate chip cookie. Sometimes though, you just want a chewy  chocolate chip cookie.

I experimented a little bit with my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, and I did it!  I made a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie that doesn't make you feel like you're eating cake.These cookies are soft, chewy, with just a little bit of that toffee like crisp that we want out of a chocolate chip cookie. Plus it has that pumpkin-y kick to it. 

As Elle Woods would say, this gives it a little something extra.

The secret is the eggs. Take them out and replace them with pumpkin. The eggs create a lot of whipped moisture which we just don't need when we have pumpkin in the mix.

You guys, I am dreaming about these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies as I write this post right now.

​Make them and love them. They are so ridiculously good!

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    Back in the early days of our marriage, pre-children, my husband was in the military and we were living in Texas for a short time.  We didn't have a lot of money, but we enjoyed staying home and playing games together.  Sometimes we would sit on the floor and play a game or two. I would make a big pan of nachos!  This was pre-microwave days.  I would spread tortilla chips on a sheet pan and sprinkle grated cheese over them and put them in the oven to melt the cheese.  We would eat those nachos right off of the pan and play Aggravation.  Now that we are empty nesters and nearly 40 years married, I am treasuring those memories and reliving a few of them!  Now, instead of nachos, I have been enjoying some full fledged meals roasted on a sheet pan. We don't usually get down on the floor to eat them, but gathering around the table is just about as good!

    Today, for Fun Friday, I thought I would share my experience with jumping on the roasted sheet pan meal bandwagon!  I love the idea for just the two of us, but it would work great for a family of 4 or for a pair of couples.  You will probably need more than one sheet pan if there are more of you than that! 

​Shrimp Boil on a Sheet Pan

    I read about a version of a sheet pan meal that mimics a Shrimp Boil.  Say shrimp and I am on board!  I used parchment to line my sheet pan.  Then I put on corn on the cob chunks, potatoes, acorn squash chunks, shrimp and smoked sausage! I drizzled olive oil over them and put on salt, pepper, garlic, dried cilantro and whatever else strikes your fancy.  I cut the potatoes and squash fairly thinly so that everything would get finished quickly.  It turned out to be delicious!

Sausage and Squash Bake

    I had an acorn squash that I baked just cut in half, sprinkled with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar.  On the same pan, I put sliced potato and sliced Polska Kielbasa.  Then, we scooped some of the soft baked squash into our bowls and topped it with the sausage and potatoes.  It was very hearty and tasted like Fall! 

    Gathering around a pan of food, laughing and talking and spending time together is a lot of fun.  If you are like me, you will be able to look back on those moments years from now.  It kind of reminds me of theFondue Party idea.  Another great perk is that there are a lot fewer dirty dishes!  Have you jumped on the sheet pan meal band wagon?  What have some of your favorite combinations been?  Let me know in the comments! 

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This week for What to Read Wednesday I’m recommending another author who has great mysteries and thrillers: Agatha Christie. 

It’s hard to say what her most well known work was because her accomplishments include Hercule Poirot stories, Murder on the Orient Express, The ABC Murders, and my personal favorite And Then There Were None. 

And Then There Were None

nd Then There Were None is a perfect story to read around Halloween. It takes place in a big mansion, brings together strangers with questionable pasts, and a murderer no one can see picking off the 10 guests one by one. 

And Then There Were None has many adaptations and parodies. You may feel like you’ve seen this done 1000 times in  movies or books but Christie is the originator of this story and the original is worth a read. 


It’s a story that will send shivers down your spine and leave you guessing until the end to figure out who the murderer is. 

And if you like And Then There Were None, check out Christie’s other novels and short stories. You won’t be disappointed!

The old movie, Ten Little Indians, was based on And Then There Were None.  
(And watch Clue. It was definitely inspired by Christie’s story but is more hilarious than scary).

More Movies Based on Agatha Christie Stories:

    It is no secret that salmon is my absolute favorite food!  I shared my favorite, go-to broiled salmon recipe on this post. The other day, I was looking through some old recipes and I found this Apple Salmon Bake that I had forgotten all about and I haven't made it in years!  I decided that for a change of pace I would give it a try. It was delicious and I'm so glad that I rediscovered it!   
    This recipe can also be made with a blend of apples and pears, but I didn't have any pears at the time.  Also, the recipe calls for peeling the apples, but I left the skin on and the apples looked beautiful and tasted great.  So, you can peel them or not. 
     Asparagus makes a nice accompaniment with salmon, so I just steamed some with salt, pepper and garlic. Doesn't that make a pretty plate?  Here is the recipe!  Let me know how you enjoy it!