The Great Pumpkin: Foods flavored with pumpkin that are better than the real thing
By Sususa Plascencia
Thanksgiving is around the corner, and that means its pumpkin spice time. This seasonal flavoring is not just in your Starbucks latte these days but also in your bath gel and even doggie treats, though I am pretty sure the mocked-up ad I saw on a friends Facebook timeline of Pennzoil pumpkin spice motor oil was a gag. Jokes aside, some foods go great with pumpkin, others not so much. Here are a few foods that were incredibly good with a touch of pumpkin taste.
Power Pumpkin
Need a little pumpkin boost before you hit the gym? Grab a Pumpkin Pie Quest Bar, the newest and 19th flavor of the health-conscious protein bar line. The pumpkin bar is coated, almost like it’s covered in a dollop of whipped cream just like a slice of the real deal. Inside is a layer of sweet buttery pumpkin, with a graham cracker crumble crust, and 21g of protein with 4 net carbs, giving you all the energy you need for your pre-holiday workout. Sale priced for the season at $24.99 for a box of 12.
Pumpkin Ganache with Panache
As if their chocolate truffles were not decadent enough, this fall GODIVA boutiques are exclusively featuring a new limited edition flavor, Pumpkin Cheesecake Truffle, a pumpkin spice and cheesecake ganache in a milk chocolate shell. If you thought the luscious truffle was the ultimate indulgence, think again. Select GODIVA locations will also serve Pumpkin Trufflelata ($6), a shake made with Pumpkin Cheesecake Truffles and soft serve ice cream, freshly blended with pumpkin pie spices then topped with swirls of fresh whipped cream, chocolate drizzle and a dash of cinnamon.
Pumpkin from Down Under
The latest craze in delicious pumpkin yoghurt (yes that’s spelled correctly) is noosa, made with fresh dairy in small batches on a Colorado family farm, by an Aussie expat who developed a unique combination of sweet and tart taste plus a thick, velvety texture, good enough to be a dessert. Other ingredients include purees of ripe, juicy fruits and a touch of clover alfalfa honey. The noosa savory pumpkin flavor was originally released as a limited-time offering, but it was so popular that it is now available all year round. Noosa yoghurt is available at Target, Ralphs and independent stores.
