Boy 2 was having SERIOUS cookie withdrawal.  Normally we bake cookies once a week but this summer the cookies kind of took a back seat to everything ~ we had not bake homemade cookies in WEEKS, maybe a month (the shame!).  I gave Boy 2 our 'favorite' cookbook (the one we made with all our favorite recipes in it) and told him to pick out the cookies he wanted to make. He chose Chocolate Lava cookies - and what a good choice it was!  The last time we had Chocolate Lava cookies was over a year ago!!

Chocolate Lava Cookies
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 ½ TBL butter
1 egg
¼ cup sugar
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp vanilla
½ cup flour
¼ tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. 
Melt chips and butter in microwave, heat 30 seconds, stir, heat 30 more seconds, stir, repeat till melted.  Set aside.  

Beat egg & sugar about 3 minutes or till light and fluffy, beat in salt and vanilla.  Gradually add melted chocolate & mix until well combined.  Add flour, baking soda, slowly.  Batter will not be stiff enough to use at this point.  Chill batter in fridge for about 30 minutes.

******Chill the batter 30 MINUTES?!?! WHAT?!?! Boy 2 didn't see that in the directions before he started...he wasn't thrilled with this part!  

Spoon batter by rounded tablespoonfuls and make 8 equally sized cookies. 

Bake for 12 minutes, cool on cookie sheet for about 3 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack.  Eat warm with milk!

IF you have cookies left over - reheat them by placing in the microwave for 10 seconds. 

Hello my beautiful new love.
Pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting.....what more could a girl ask for.  Well, there is lots, but for today I will settle for the cookies.
My friend Jewel posted this link to this recipe on another friend's facebook page and being that we are all connected (not that I am a snoop) I had to check it out & I am so glad I did.  These little babies are just right for the fall season.

Now for the lady I met at the zoo in San Antonio - I really thought there was less butter in these bad boys.  In fact, I really think I only put one stick of butter in the cookies the first time I made them.  I'm going to try it again with only 1 stick.  The first time I made these they were more cake like than than the second time I made them.  Hummm.......

1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup pumpkin puree
3 cups flour
2tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray cookie sheet with nonstick spray.
Using mixer, beat butter & sugars till light and fluffy, then add eggs one at a time.  Mix in the vanilla and pumpkin.
In a large bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.  Slowly beat the flour mixture into the batter. 
Using a medium cookie scoop (about 1 tablespoon size) drop onto cookie sheet.  Bake for 12-15 minutes.  Let cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting

6 oz cream cheese softened
4 tbl butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Using mixer beat cream cheese and butter till smooth.  Add vanilla, then slowly add powdered sugar and cinnamon.  Mix till smooth.  Frost cookies ~ any leftover frosting, eat it.