stick-to-the-original guys and their honey lavender girl

Years ago, I bought new sheets to replace the threadbare, holey ones upon our youngest son's bed.
As I threw the old ones in the trashcan,
our son tearfully reclaimed them and begged to save them for his memory box.
My practical and sentimental side waged war for a few moments,
but I finally consented to let him keep them.
As he threw his little arms around me that night and thanked me for letting him keep them,
he spoke the quote that's been imprinted on my heart ever since:
"I'm a stick-to-the-original kind of guy. I don't like change."

Funny, as much as I relate to and identify with this son of my heart when it comes to life,
I'm quite a different story in the kitchen.
I'm forever, constantly changing things up and trying new recipes.
Sometimes it's a bit too much for my classic, vanilla-loving guys when I try to bring in things like lavender honey.
But, as I remind them, were it not for my never-ending venture to try new recipes,
we'd never have discovered some of what have become our all-time favorites.
And so, it's a dance.
They've learned to humor me and be a bit more adventurous.
I've learned---and must continue to learn better---
how to revisit the classics that they've grown to love and associate with comfort.

And sometimes, well, I need to leave well enough alone.

This weekend, for instance.
It wasn't sufficient to make straight-up snickerdoodles or straight-up gingersnaps.
You know, the ones everybody loves?
I had to throw in a variation.
Pumpkin snickerdoodles and pumpkin gingersnaps.
Sometimes these little experiments work and, well, sometimes they don't.
I won't be sharing the pumpkin snickerdoodle recipe because they didn't taste like much of anything.
Highly disappointing.
And the pumpkin gingersnaps were delicious,
but I had to hug my husband upon his return home and admit that he's right.
Sometimes it's better to stick with the original, well-loved recipes.
Afterall, they became that for a reason.

But even though there was one definite flop among my fall treats this weekend,
here's the one new keeper and the one family-loved classic that have made their way into my recipe binder.
Now the question is, when will my family ever see them again?  :)

Pumpkin Gingersnaps

Autumn Spice Dark Chocolate Brownies

(This is a fudgy brownie---exactly the way a brownie should be.  I don't bother with the ganache or nuts---it's perfect as is).

Enjoy the warmth and glow of this beautiful fall day ~ and happy fall baking!