The Nog Blog featuring Somethin' Pumpkin

The less said about this cupcake the better.  Whole Foods spawned this baked good (a misnomer if ever I typed one), promising a combination of pumpkin and ginger.  Normally, I don’t dally on the dark side with pumpkin items, but some stores’ idea of “pumpkin” is actually all spice, which I can handle easily; the presence of ginger made me think that might be the case here, so I gave it a go.  Bad idea.

The “frosting” tasted like the pureed guts of a recently carved pumpkin spread slyly atop an unsuspecting cupcake.  I have no idea what the cupcake tasted like, as the pumpkin flavor was noxiously overpowering.  (It is worth noting, however, that after one delicious Whole Foods cupcakes a few months ago, this is their second consecutive miss.  The last one I tried tasted like a flapjack [the cupcake] slathered in butter [the frosting].)  This was too much for a non-pumpkin-lover (me) to handle.

Pumpkin Muffin

dense, rubbery bites
of real pumpkin filled magic
it might have been stale

Pumpkin Raisin Bagel

cheese overpowered
pumpkin never had a chance
raisins kill my joy

nevernever:

daintydoll:

mmeadowlark:marieadele:wander-lust:outofhabit:

snickerdoodle:robot-heart:hurricane-k:pegster:shanaynay:

whiskeyandgoatsmilk:

Pumpkin Pie Milkshakes

2 cups vanilla reduced-fat ice cream (such as Healthy Choice), softened

• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 2/3 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
• 3 tablespoons frozen fat-free whipped topping,
• thawed Pumpkin-pie spice (optional)
• Place first 5 ingredients in a blender; process until smooth. Pour 3/4 cup ice cream mixture into each of 4 glasses. Top each with about 2 teaspoons whipped topping; sprinkle with the additional pumpkin-pie spice, if desired. Yield: 4 servings.(via)

OMG this looks SO good. <3

If you like your pumpkin bouquet muted and leaning toward the tart, cheesy side, this loaf is for you.  I thought it would be a one two punch of flavors given the marbled appearance of the slice.  Instead, the flavor is consistent throughout and the colors are purely decorative.  The cake is moist and I would suggest a fork and plate rather than the guerilla style straight-from-the-container-to-my-mouth technique I employed.  I’m not completely sold on the authentic nature of this pumpkin product.  I question its sincerity as a celebration of the season, suspecting it to merely be taking advantage of those looking for the bright side in this most terrible, dreary time of year.  Still, I find my will to refrain from a third slice to be waning.

Pumpkin Créme Cheese Loaf Cake appears to fall under the umbrella of SUPERVALU Superstore’s non-signature brand offerings.  This particular (sliced) loaf cake was purchased at Shaw’s. It may or may not be found at the other stores SUPERVALU supplies which are conveniently listed at the bottom of their homepage.