1 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup canned or fresh pureed pumpkin
1-3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Pecan or walnut halves

Preheat oven to 350 deg. Grease cookie sheets.

Cream shortening and sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg, orange and vanilla extracts. Stir in pumpkin. Add flour, baking powder, salt and pumpkin pie spice. Beat until well mixed.

Drop by rounded teaspoons onto greased baking sheets. Place a nut half on top of each cookie. Bake at 350 deg. for 12 to 15 minutes, until edges just begin to brown.

Yield: about 4 dozen.