Teresa Heinz Kerry's Pumpkin Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup raisins

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375°. Place butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl; cream together with electric mixer. Add egg, pumpkin, and vanilla; beat well. Sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and allspice. Stir into pumpkin mixture. Stir in walnuts and raisins. Drop dough with a tablespoon onto a well-greased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake at 375° for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Makes about 5 dozen.

Tip:
Here's how to plump the raisins. Do this before you start making the cookies and the raisins will be ready when you need them. Place the raisins in a microwave container and pour 2 tablespoons of water over top. Microwave on high for 1 minute; let set for five minutes. Discard any remaining water.

Notes:
This recipe is a product of the 2004 Kerry for President campaign.