Autumn Lovin'

Yes, I realize that we are almost half way through September and I have yet to publish a post for this month.  My apologies.  To make up for it, I have a double post of good fall recipes for you.  Here you go:

Fall. I love it for so many reasons. The first reason being how everything outside is so beautiful. Trees are dressed in brilliant shades of warm colors. I love the crisp air. I love pulling out the sweaters and jeans. I love tailgating. There are so many wonderful things about fall, I haven’t even gotten to the food yet! I absolutely love fall foods. Low and slow stews, caramel apples, mulled cider, warm donuts…I could go on but I’m afraid I’d drool all over the keyboard.  What do you love most about fall?

Game Day Cookies

So here are the ingredients: first cool weather of the year, first weekend of college football and your husband is hosting a poker party. What does that add up to? Baking of course. I decided that those ingredients were the perfect recipe for game day cookies. What are game day cookies you ask? It is a combination of two cookie recipes I have been pining to make since last year. I must make the disclaimer that game day cookies are the furthest thing from diet food there could possibly be. These dense cookies aren’t exactly what you crave in the summer. They are however perfect for a fall day when you are just going to be lounging in sweats on the couch anyway.

This recipe is actually a combination of two different cookies: one was a bar type cookie and the other was a muffin type cookie.  I liked the ingredients of the bar type cookie but liked the idea of a muffin shaped, individual grab and go cookie.  I think they turned out pretty well.  The original recipe called for m&ms but per Joe's peanut butter suggestion I decided on Reese's Pieces and think it was a brilliant substitute.  These cookies are perfect for movie night, poker night, game night, tailgates...the possibilities are endless!

Game Day Cookies

2 sticks butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Reese's Pieces
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup small pretzel sticks, broken in small pieces

Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until fluffy.  Beat in vanilla and eggs.  Whisk flour, baking soda and salt.  Stir into butter mixture.  Add Reese's Pieces, chocolate chips and pretzels.  Chill dough for 30 minutes.  Press scoops of dough into cupcake tray.  Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.