The Beginning of Autumn

...or at least the beginning of the Autumn cookie section. It's a loooong way from feeling like autumn weather where I live but since it's the first week of September, Chloe and I decided to begin making all the cookies in the Autumn section of the Cookie Sampler. A little bit about the Cookie Sampler - it was published by a magazine called The Country Sampler, which was a catalog type magazine that showcased items for country decor at the height of the country decor craze - circa 1987. The editors of the magazine collected cookie recipes from various readers and contributors and published them, separating the recipes into sections - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Holidays - you get the idea. Every recipe we will be making is someone's favorite even if it doesn't turn out to be ours. This week we made Apple Pecan Cookies. The ingredients included the regular items - sugar, flour, eggs, salt, shortening - and also applesauce, pecans, raisins, cinnamon and cloves. As we were mixing, Chloe commented about how good it smelled. When we opened the oven after cooking the first tray, the house was filled with such an aroma! We have our house on the market - anyone want to buy a 1960's ranch in Orlando? - and if we baked these cookies right before someone came to see the house, I am certain they would sign a full price contract on the spot! Like life, sometimes things turn out perfectly and other times, not so much. These cookies were like that. They were not the most beautiful cookies I have ever made, sort of blobbish, but they tasted pretty good. They were soft and cakelike. There were pecans in the batter (it was not dough, it was thick batter) and each cookie was topped with a pecan half. Chloe, who likes pecans in certain culinary situations - pecan roll, anyone? - labeled the pecan half on top of the cookies "disgusting" but she otherwise liked the taste of the cookies. Many of you have graciously offered to take cookies off our hands in an attempt to help me keep my weight under control (and I appreciate your willingness to sacrifice for my sake!) Tonight, I took most of the cookies to "Christmas in September," an event at my church in preparation for the Singing Christmas Trees. We donned our Christmas sweaters and brought our Christmas goodies to share. The A/C was turned down low and the music and theme for this year's Singing Christmas Trees was unveiled. It's going to be great so if you live in or near Orlando, make plans to attend. You can order tickets by going to www.firstorlando.com.