When I was a kid, catalogs were a pretty big deal. Before online shopping happened, I would happily spend hours poring over the pages of different catalogs. My favorite by far was the Sears Wish List, which came out in the fall and was full of holiday cheer and tons of toys. I could look at those toys forever, imagining that I owned them all.
A more consistent and less exciting offering was my mother’s L.L. Bean catalog, which I would look through and privately wonder at. My mother always said that their clothes were “classic,” but to me, that just meant dull. I was always much more into sparkly things and spur of the moment trends. And khaki chinos? Shiver. No, thanks.
Now that the holiday season is in the kind of imminent future and the leaves are starting to turn, I’m definitely thinking about those catalogs. Time has a way of slipping by, and I’m not trying to rush things. At the same time, there’s been no opportunity lately to stop and smell the crunchy leaves. Or read a catalog. We’re going to have to work on that.
The best way to get a break in my world is with cookies. Snowballs have always been a huge fave of mine, and adding just a small amount of pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice makes them more than ready for fall.
If you remember the days of leafing through catalogs while lying on your tummy on a carpeted floor, then we’re simpatico. If you think time is going by too fast, join humanity. We’re all there. I hope you get some time to stop and look around. If not, I hope there’s a cookie break in there somewhere!
Preheat the oven to 350. Line a cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and pumpkin until fluffy. Add flour, pumpkin pie spice and salt and beat again until the dough forms.
Roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place on your cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the bottoms are just starting to brown.
Wait 5 minutes and roll the cookies in the powdered sugar carefully. You don't want to press down, or the cookies will crumble. Wait a few minutes, and then roll them a second time.
Purim is on Thursday. Who knows what I’m talking about?
Every spring, the Jewish holiday of Purim occurs. It’s one of the fun ones, following the whole “they tried to kill us, they failed, let’s eat” mode of celebration. On that day, people dress in costume, deliver baskets of treats to friends, give charity, and eat hamantaschen.
This delightful cookie is named after the villain of the Purim story, Haman. These are triangular-shaped cookies that are traditionally filled with fruit or chocolate, but I’ve switched things up a bit. The dough here has a Linzer cookie twist with ground almonds, and the filling is chocolate raspberry. Talk about celebrating in style!
My grandmother made really good sugar cookies.
Yeah, yeah, everyone’s grandmother probably did. But the thing is, sugar cookies have never been my favorite. I could take them or leave them. But hers? No way. I ate them all up every time she baked them.
Sugar cookies are my son’s favorite, but I used to avoid making them because I didn’t like the work involved with either rolling out dough or making a log and slicing off cookies. But this recipe is simplicity itself. My son can get his cookies, and I can spend more time playing Connect Four with him instead of rolling out cookies.
Take a deep breath, because you’re in for a shock. Are you ready? Here goes.
I did not try a Twix bar until I was in my late twenties. No joke. Not even a bite. And though there’s usually a reason for travesties like that, I have no real reason to offer. My parents never bought them, I always wanted other candy, and it just never occurred to me to actually eat a Twix bar.
So you can imagine my grief at all the wasted years when I finally tried one. It was such a surprise. Not to shame Rolos, but why hadn’t I tried this caramel (and cookie-infused) candy? Why? Why?!
Of course I remember the days of flipping through catalogs…the good old days lol These little bites look delicious and perfect for the fall!
Thanks so much! I loved lazy days with catalogs!
I remember the good ol’ days where catalogs were all the rage – when we were kids we would page through the Toys R’ Us catalogs around the holiday time and circle the gifts we REALLY wanted. Victoria’s Secret still sends an occasional catalog, but I find that I prefer the ease of online perusing.
I’m glad you shared these pumpkin snowballs. I’ve been looking for a more subdued pumpkin dessert and this looks just perfect.
I used to love looking at catalogs right around this time of year and start planning out my Christmas list when I was a kid! And hey, I STILL look at catalogs! Hello C&B and Anthropologie – I’m look at you. 😉 I certainly hope you find some time to slow down, enjoy the change in weather and read a catalog or too, Mir! In the mean time I say you just eat TONS of these fabulous snowballs! I mean, these have to make life a bit more enjoyable! This is a pumpkin flavored treat I can totally get down with! 😉 Cheers, girlie!
snow balls are one of my favorite cookies! love the pumpkin twist!
Funny, now with the baby I don’t know what day it is very often! Love snowballs and these look delicious! Need to try them!
Ha! I remember those days. They too shall pass.
You are taking me back to my childhood days! I LOVE flipping through catalogs, too! My brother and I would always circle just about every toy in the Sears and JC Penney catalogs…and I remember always wanting a ventriloquist doll haha. These pumpkin snowballs look perfect, Mir! Such a great idea and I think I could eat them ALL!
I circled it all, too. Greedy greedy!