Happy Wednesday, all!
It's not technically autumn yet, but I'm already seeing scores of blog posts pop up dedicated to dressing for fall and eating for fall and just generally falling for fall. (See what I did there?) Which brings me to a very hard-hitting, topical question:
How do you feel about the pumpkin/pumpkin spice craze?
It seems like everybody and their grandma is already stocking up on pumpkin candles and pumpkin lattes and whatnot. What do you think—totally delicious and worth the hype or kind of bleh? I've always been a big fan of pumpkin pie and pumpkin as an ingredient in other recipes, but I'm not sure where I stand on the latte issue. And pumpkininny candles either smell good to me or give me a headache, depending on the manufacturer.
So where do you stand on the pumpkin issue? Pumpkin all the way? Sometimes? Never? In space? Deep thoughts.
I love pumpkin!! Though I'm over the whole Starbucks pumpkin spice latte deal. It's always hit or miss depending on who makes it.. So this year I'm going to attempt to make it at home. I also love pumpkin in savory dishes like risotto or dumplings. I also have a soy pumpkin candle that I'm saving for when it starts to feel like fall
ReplyDeletePumpkin is SO GOOD in risotto! Now I want to make that, haha. I think I still have a pumpkin candle left over from last year ... not feeling it just yet, but I'm sure I will when the leaves start to turn!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm one of those who can only tolerate so much pumpkin spice. Maybe a pie here and a candle there, but definitely not more than one pumpkinny distraction at once or else my olfactory nerves will tell my brain to kill me slowly with the nastiest headache ever. Actual pumpkins though, that's a different story. Personally I think they smell nothing like p-spice and I don't mind sitting for hours on end carving weird looking jack-o-lanterns.
ReplyDeleteMy boyfriend and I were having an impassioned debate about this before... I like pumpkin, in general, but I really am not into pumpkin spice things, ESPECIALLY if they're only pumpkin spice and NOT pumpkin AND spice (does that make sense?).
ReplyDeleteThe pumpkin spice headache is real! I think that's why candles get me sometimes, depending on how strong they smell. And yeah, regular old pumpkins just smell kind of earthy. I make pumpkin pancakes sometimes with canned/jarred pumpkin. Mmm, pancakes.
ReplyDeleteWell if by "only pumpkin spice" you mean that generic, artificial-smelling "Cracker Barrel gift shop" type scent/flavor, then definitely yes. I've never met a pumpkin pie I didn't like (actual pumpkin + spices = mm mmm) but flavored syrups and whatnot can be kind of blueueeeuergrrrrgh.
ReplyDeleteMeh about the lattes but I LOVE PUMPKIN SPICE SCENTED ANYTHING. Candles, soap, whathaveyou
ReplyDeleteThe only pumpkin thing i've ever had, was some kind of pumpkin beer. Not sure what that says about me haha. I am determined to try and bake something pumpkiny this year mind. But I guess you could say i'm not generally fussed about pumpkins.
ReplyDeleteI like pumpkin scones and pumpkin pie but the craving only lasts 2 months. As for smells like candles, I like more of the perfume scents than food.
ReplyDeleteOh wait, I do like pumpkin soup. Nice homemade version with some spice like chipotle or serrano chilies!
I am a total pumpkin addict. I have a board on Pinterest called "Everything Pumpkin" and every fall I buy every single pumpkin or fall-scented candle I can find at Bath & Body Works and Yankee Candle. I'm ridiculous! Although I have to say I do not care for all of the pumpkin spice lattes floating around because I don't think they actually taste like pumpkin and they're all too damn sweet.
ReplyDeleteOoh, do you have a preferred source or brand of pumpkin spice soap? That sounds kind of nice, actually.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, pumpkin beer is pretty good! Pumpkin is actually pretty great for baking because it can make things nice and moist and dense ... plus pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread are tasty. I don't get all crazed about pumpkin-flavored stuff but I do usually stock up on canned pumpkin for making soups and pancakes and stuff. I'll fully admit that I'm too lazy to clean and chop up a whole pumpkin. :P
ReplyDeleteMe too! My boyfriend and I were actually just talking about making pumpkin soup. Maybe a curried pumpkin soup? I'm not sure yet, but we do get sort of nutty about making lots of soup once the weather gets cooler.
ReplyDeleteHahaha! I follow you on Pinterest, but I never noticed that board. Will totally check it out now. :)
ReplyDeleteSavory pumpkin foods are OK, but I prefer butternut squash. I have never liked pumpkin pie. I do enjoy the spices that go into pumpkin pie. Pumpkin scented things baffle me. I have never tried the pumpkin spice latte because nobody has been able to tell me if it tastes of pumpkin (ugh) or just the spices (yum). So I just wait for the gingerbread ones to come out. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is actually a woman who makes it up in the mountains where my mom lives lol, a homemade recipe of sorts!
ReplyDeleteI love pumpkin! The smell, the taste, the texture...it's delisicous in ravioli, and I love it i sweet treats. I can't wait for the pumpkin spice latte, too. Perhaps it is a bit of a seasonal thing though, like how we look forward to mulled wine and turkey at Christmas, but we wouldn't think twice about them in Summer. I guess it makes things more special that way :)
ReplyDeleteSeems reasonable. I've used "pumpkin pie spice" in non-pumpkin coffee cake recipes and it came out well. I honestly can't tell you about the lattes though, because I drank one exactly once and was kind of grossed out, but that was several years ago when it was a new-ish thing so I don't know if it was the pumpkin or the spices or the sweetness or what.
ReplyDeleteWhat, you don't drink mulled wine in the summer?! (I kid.) But yeah, there is something to be said for the "specialness" of seasonal treats!
ReplyDeleteI think pumpkin flavored/scented things are great. Especially around this time of the year because it gets you excited for fall/the holidays like Thanksgiving/Halloween. I WISH I could drink the pumpkin flavored drinks but they are always made with the liquid sugar shots. The kuerig pumpkin coffees don't have added sugar though. I would LOVE for starbucks to come out with a skinny pumpkin flavor!
ReplyDeleteI love pumpkin scented things. I do not love pumpkin tasting things.
ReplyDeleteI bet you could concoct some sort of "skinny" pumpkin latte at home if you were really desperate! Pumpkin spice coffee sounds like it might be appealing. I think the sweetness might be what turned me off the lattes.
ReplyDeleteFair enough! Definitely don't lick your pumpkin candles then. :P
ReplyDeleteThat might be possible! Yes, if you don't like the sweetness def get just pumpkin flavored coffee at the grocery store. At coffee shops they add shit to the drink where the ground coffee has the actual taste of pumpkin. I want to say the Keurig brand is Green Mountain that we had last year. But I know a ton of different brands have pumpkin flavored coffee.If you look at the nutrition content, if there is a very low amount of sugar/carbs (like 5g or less) then its most likely just the coffee with a hint of flavor.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the pumpkin craziness, but it would be nice if it started just a bit later. It's a little cooler here today, but it was the hottest day of the year here on Wednesday. I don't really do Starbucks, so I don't drink the pumpkin things. The home fragrances are really nice, though.
ReplyDeleteAny time after Labour Day is good for me. I adore Autumn and Halloween is my favourite holiday. Unfortunately I currently live in England, the non Halloween celebrating, non Pumpkin pie eating centre of the Universe.
ReplyDeleteIt was still INSANELY hot and humid here until just a few days ago, so I definitely wasn't feeling the cozy pumpkin vibe. It's funny how many people start writing about autumn like crazy at the beginning of September, especially considering that it hasn't technically even started it!
ReplyDeleteAh, that's a shame. The Everything Pumpkin obsession and over-the-top Halloween celebrations are a distinctly American thing - perhaps you could bake some pies to share and start a trend? :)
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