It's really that time of year: the leaves are turning, dilapidated brown lunch bags hit my morning counter (re-use!!) and backpacks land on the floor in a variety of places. School papers and projects evidence our academic focus... I love that October is all about colors and routines, school books and of course decorating the house for Halloween.

Just this morning the Fedex man came to drop off a package---only to jump at the rock that lights up 'Go Back' in neon purple---and makes motion-activated goblin noises. A car goes by, and the goblin wakes up a second time. Our family favorite is a pirate skeleton we attach to the front door. "Closer, come closer," he says, while wagging his finger at the curious onlooker: "I've been waiting for you... Boo!--ahhha hah ahh."

I love making specialty Halloween cocktails; this hairy-legged spider, dead in a glass is by far my favorite-looking concoction. Coming up with all sorts of treats is all part of the October fun. Each year, I make these jack 'o' lantern cookies to insert into my sons' lunches. Although orange, with jack 'o' lantern faces... they aren't pumpkin-flavored at all. In fact these cookies turn orange due to cooked carrots; their mini chocolate chip faces are attached with orange-flavored icing and despite the 'healthful' cookies during a sugary time of year these cookies taste like little slices of cake. My kids love them (and so do I!).

Jack 'o' Lantern Cookiesmakes 2 dozen.

1 cup butter (room temp) 2/3 cup sugar 2 eggs 1  cup mashed cooked carrots 1/2 tsp salt 1  tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp lemon extract 2 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder topping: mini chocolate chips

icing 1/4 cup fresh orange juice 2 cups confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugar; mix in egg, carrots, extracts. Blend flour, baking powder and salt; mix just until blended. Drop onto cookie sheet, bake 12-15 minutes (makes 15-18 ping pong ball size cookies). Meanwhile, whisk together orange juice and sugar to make icing. Let cookies cool, then ice and adorn with chocolate chips.