Russian Refresher

I have no idea why this is considered "Russian"-- Madison just requests "Yummy Hot Orange Drink". It is however a nice alternative to hot cocoa or hot apple cider. This makes a large batch of the mix. I often package it and share with friends in the fall time.

2 cups Tang
3 ounces presweetened lemonade mix
1 cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves

Mix all ingredients and store in an airtight container. To make a single serving of the drink, use 3 teaspoons in 6 ounces of hot water.

This recipe plus lots of cute fall ideas at this website rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com/2009/10/hot-spiced-orange-drink.html

Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

This recipe is from King Arthur Flour. They are very exact with their recipes and often call for specific items not in your normal everyday pantry. For example, in this recipe it calls for "cake enhancer" and xanthan gum. I left those things out, but they were still yummy! I love all these fall spices and flavors.

This is the original recipe that they based the mini version on. To make mini whoopie pies you just use the 1 inch scoop instead of the muffin size scoop.

CAKE

• 1/2 cup soft butter
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 2 tablespoons King Arthur Cake Enhancer, optional
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons Vietnamese cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups (one 15-ounce can) pumpkin
• 2 1/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour or King Arthur 100% White Whole Wheat Flour

FILLING

• 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
• 4 tablespoons soft butter
• 2 cups glazing sugar or confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum, optional
• 1/4 cup diced crystallized ginger, optional

Directions

1) To make the cookies: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease two baking sheets or line with parchment paper.

2) Beat together the butter, oil, sugar, molasses, cake enhancer, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.

3) Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, then beat in the eggs one at a time, until fluffy.

4) Stir in the pumpkin.

5) Add the flour in two additions, mixing well after each addition.

6) Use a muffin scoop to deposit the thick batter onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2" around each mound.

7) Bake until the cookies feel firm; a slight indentation will remain when you gently press them in the middle, about 16 to 18 minutes.

8) Remove from the oven, cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then move to a rack to cool completely.

9) To make the filling: Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy.

10) Beat in the sugar in two additions.

11) Add the vanilla and xanthan gum. Beat for 2 to 3 minutes, until very fluffy.

12) Stir in the crystallized ginger.

13) To assemble: Sandwich two cookies around 2 tablespoons of filling. For best storage, wrap each pie in plastic wrap.

Yield: 1 dozen 4" whoopie pies. (OR 30 mini whoopie pies)