monkey, can you please describe further this "chipmunk pool of death"? Actually, I would prefer to call it the "striped-rat pool of death". I really hate those rats! They just trash everything. I have a ton of holes all over the garden and lawn, and I'm quite certain they are all from chipmunks. I would love more info on how this "pool" is set up. Thanks!

What kind of peanut butter? I often buy peanuts at a reduced price after the holidays and make my own peanut butter in the food processor. I also use powdered peanut butter and reconstitute it with water and add a little coconut oil to smooth out the texture. (Powdered peanut butter is a home food storage staple.) When Dillons (our Kroger associated grocery store) sends me a coupon for a free jar of Kroger peanut butter, I'll use that. The price of an 18-oz. jar of it has more than doubled over the last few years, so it MUST be good...... If I'm feeling wild and crazy I'll make sunflower seed butter and use that for something different. I'm not one of those "picky" people who choose Jif - because it normally doesn't fit my food budget. We regularly use 18-oz. of peanut butter per month without using it for cookies. This is our newest favorite peanut butter cookie recipe.... PEANUT BUTTER CRUNCH COOKIES Heat or microwave to liquefy: 1 stick of butter 3/4 c. peanut butter Add remaining ingredients: 1 t. baking soda pinch of salt 2 eggs 1 c. unsalted dry roasted peanuts 1/2 c. raw or roasted sunflower seeds 1/2 c. almond flour (or wheat flour) 1/2 c. palm sugar (or brown sugar) 1/2 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips 1/2 c. cacao nibs (optional) Use an electric mixer to blend. Use a #50 portion scoop to portion cookies and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Press dough down slightly. Bake in a preheated 375-degree F. oven for 12-minutes. -Grainlady

I can't eat peanut butter because of a peanut sensitivity but I sure do crave it. I miss having peanut butter toast soldiers dipped into my tea. I just found a good substitute in sunflower seed butter - same mouth feel and texture with crunchy bits of sunflower seeds. I tried almond butter but found it too gritty for me. I used to love York or Skippy peanut butter. I don't think they make York peanut butter anymore.

I don't like pumpkin either, I always sub some other type of squash when I make the dish. It has no discernable coconut flavor, but you could easily sub heavy cream. Also could make "Italian" version using tomato sauce instead of coconut milk, and italian seasonings. Italians often sub squash in for some type of pasta or meat. Which BTW reminds me of another favorite food of mine--hubbard squash. If you can find one that isn't huge, you might like to make some dishes with that. If I can ever find a football sized one, I do stuffed squash with it. You can make all kinds of things with bean flours, but I don't know how much of that you can eat.