DATE, NUT, PUMPKIN COOKIES

A most delicious cookie, don't wait for Halloween to make them.

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg, or 1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 (16 oz) can pumpkin
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp grated orange rind
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts, your choice
1/2 cup pitted dates, finely chopped toss with a bit of flour so they won't stick together)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet.

In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.

In a large bowl, cream the butter until fluffy; add the sugar; beat until light. Beat in the egg, orange rind, and vanilla.

Mix in the pumpkin and stir in the nuts and dates. Gradually add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture, until completely incorporated .

Drop by heaping teaspoons onto prepared cookie sheet, spacing 1 1/2-inches apart.

Bake for 15 minutes or until firm. Remove from oven; let sit for 3 minutes and transfer to wire rack to cool.

Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies