The Great Pumpkin Post

Happy Monday! I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. Ours was just so-so. Lots of time spent around the house since Trey had staff duty. I hate when he has that over the weekend! I'm feeling good and positive this morning though, so let's not go down that path. Moving on!

As most of you know, Autumn is my favorite time of year. I'm borderline obsessive. It makes me giddy. Summertime sucks the life right out of me.. I know, I know.. very un-American of me.. but it's true. I'm not a fan of Summer. So fall.. it brings me back to life. That being said, I'm sure you find it strange that I've never cared for any pumpkin flavored treats. (No? You don't find it strange and don't particularly even care for that matter? If you love me.. bear.. beer?.. bare?? with me and keep reading anyways. I need suggestions at the end.)
But I also lived in New England until I was 13 and don't like ANY seafood. And spent the next 13 years in South Carolina and don't like grits. So, obviously, I'm a go-against-the-grain kinda girl.

So.. there's been no pumpkin bread, pies, pudding or cookies in my life. Until a few months ago. Then Nancy Galas (see.. that's two mentions of you on my blog now. You need to make one yourself so I can link to you when I mention your name and the world can see how fabulous you are) and her cookies walk into my life. Nancy makes pumpkin cookies from scratch. I don't know what possessed me to try them.. you know.. since I don't like pumpkin.. why would I like pumpkin cookies?? But I did. And I proceeded to eat 20 more in one sitting.   I had one or two that night, and seriously, they are the melt in your mouth goodness that everyone was raving about. Okay... maybe there is something to this pumpkin thing.
Fast forward a few months further. I'm gallivanting around El Paso with JG, ( I know... jealous??) and of course, we can't resist the urgent calling for Starbucks. She orders a Pumpkin Spice Frappacino (hello.. I didn't know they made a frap in that flavor!) and I'm intrigued. Not quite enough to go out on a limb and order my own. But enough to take a little sippsies of hers. I've had two since then. And this outing was just 4 days ago...

Here's where you come in. I've only gained 5 pounds in the last 2 months, so obvi, I need to gain more.. ugghhhh!! Kidding. I really need to lose it plus another 20 but that's not what we're focusing on today. I'm working on a fun, decorative fall bucket list, a la Katie, (yes, you can see it when it's done) and one thing I want to do is make a new recipe using pumpkin. Please note.. I didn't say it had to be fresh pumpkin. It's perfectly okay to use it out of the can, right? I mean.. we don't all have to be Nancy Galas's in this world.. right??
So what should I make? Give me your best pumpkin recipe. Ready.. set... go!