Pumpkin Palooza

So after dinner the other night, the man-friend and I stopped in at Trader Joe’s and I got the opportunity to witness the mass pumpkin exodus…

Trader Joe's Pumpkin ALL the Things!

And yes, I did arrange those items for my picture!

BEFORE perusing the wine selection…something that always excites me when I’m in a city that allows liquor sales in a grocery store…I moseyed over to the sample table to see what I could get…because my priorities are in order I’m always scoping out the free food
I was curious to see what they had. πŸ˜‰

As I walked around the store eating a delicious piece of Β pumpkin bread but sipping some Β pumpkin spice coffee that tasted like ass, I spotted pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin crackers, pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin tea, pumpkin soup…hell, at this point, I wouldn’t have been surprised if a giant pumpkin burst through the side wall like the frickin’ Kool-Aid Man! But seriously, I couldn’t help but laugh…especially since after my last pumpkin spice seduction ended in massive disappointment. Yeah, remember these guys?

Pumpkin Spice M&M's

Verdict? Tasted like hot ass cinnamon candies…ICK!

So as I walked out of Trader Joe’s empty handed, I decided something…I’m Β over the whole pumpkin spice ALL the things thing. Sorry I’m not sorry, but I’m just tired of being disappointed. So from now on, I’m just gonna stick with the stuff I know…the stuff that’s homemade, creamy, NOT burn-your-tongue spicy, satisfying, and perhaps, since it’s Friday, a little strange? πŸ˜‰

Pumpkin Tofana Porridge from www.kissmybroccoliblog.comLast week’s #strangebutgood recipe with a pumpkin makeover…done the RIGHT way!

Pumpkin “Tofana” Porridge

By: Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli

Prep Time: 2-3 minutes

Cook Time: 45 seconds (optional)

Keywords: microwave breakfast gluten-free dairy-free high protein vegan vegetarian bananas pumpkin puree tofu #strangebutgood fall winter

Ingredients (Serves 1)

  • 1/2 package silken tofu (or 1 serving extra-firm)
  • 1/2 medium-sized banana
  • 1/2 teaspoon maple extract (or vanilla)
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin puree’
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Mash with a fork until mixture reaches desired consistency.
3. Serve cold or microwave on high for 45 seconds if you prefer.
4. Top with fresh fruit, nuts, nut butter, and/or granola.

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Pumpkin Tofana Porridge

After whipping up a regular AND a chocolate version of the original last week, it only seemed natural to get in on the season’s festivities and create a pumpkin version…and ok, so mayyyyybe it was the day before I left for Cleveland and still had half a HUGE can of pumpkin to use up…details, shhmetails!

If you’re thinking it looks a bit chunkier thicker than last week, you’d be right. I used extra-firm tofu in this bowl since that’s just what I happened to have on hand, but if you have silken, you can use that instead for a creamier consistency…bonus points if it’s over six months expired! πŸ˜‰

Strange but Good Pumpkinified

Sorry Laura, but I couldn’t resist vandalizing the SBG button! Plus, I have a feeling, with 32 cans of pumpkin left in my pantry, there may be a few more of these editions in the future! πŸ˜‰ Be sure to head on over to Sprint 2 the Table and check out the delicious albeit quirky link up for all us weird resourceful foodies out there!

Are you a sucker for ALL THE pumpkin spiceΒ THINGS?Β Any disappointments?

You know what else goes great with pumpkin?
WAFFLES! Be sure to enter my giveaway for a free box of Kodiak Cake mix!

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51 Responses to Pumpkin Palooza

  1. I had a mini heart-attack when you declared you are over the whole pumpkin spice thing but I totally get it. Let’s be honest, most of the PS stuff out there sucks balls. That’s why I stick to homemade, your recipes or David’s Pumpkin Chai tea. BUT I don’t get to TJs often and I’ll be in Minneapolis this weekend so I can’t promise I won’t be sucked in my some of the PS goodness. I do intend to get sucked in by their Thai Chili Lime Cashews though because those are straight up crack.

    I also have a weakness for TJs chicken sausage (not a weakness for all sausage though ;)) but the idea of getting stopped at security for trying to smuggle home a suitcase of chicken sausage does NOT sound ideal. Have a wonderful weekend my dear!

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Yeah, I’m sure you’d have a FUN time explaining a bag full of sausages to security! Haha! I will say TJs has a good amount of crackilicious items, but I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who’s not totally seduced by the pumpkin spice takeover! Hope you had fun NOT celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend! πŸ˜‰

  2. oh wow πŸ˜€ what a great variation of the original πŸ˜€ i cannot wait to try πŸ˜€ it’s crazy how pumpkin isn’t as crazy here as it is in the states! i started talking about pumpkin recipes with my friend last night and she looked at me like i was crazy. she only ever heard of pumpkin pie. i wonder what she would think of my pumpkin french toast or greek yogurt or your pumpkin tofu oats πŸ˜‰

  3. Lisa says:

    All these pumpkin items are calling my name. It makes me rather sad that Canada is not aboard Trader Joe’s or pumpkin spice M&M’s. Seriously Canada, what is wrong with you.
    Well, actually now that you mention they taste like cinnamon candies, I no longer feel so bad because I hate cinnamon candies;)
    I’m ALL in for this pumpkin porridge! I secretly get too exited when people make recipes without eggs or dairy these days. It seems to not happen very often anymore. So, with that being said this is on my to make list ASAP!

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      It is weird how crazy we Americans can get over seasonal flavors…and I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that all my Canadian blends are deprived of such goodies! Get with it Canada! I hope you try the porridge…it was definitely one of my favorite breakfasts last week! πŸ™‚

  4. I have never worked with silken tofu but I know I need to hop on the bandwagon. Girl, I feel ya with the pumpkin overload. I do love it but it’s a bit excessive at times.

  5. I’m not even a huge pumpkin fan. Sure, I like a good slice of pumpkin bread as much as the next girl, but it really isn’t my favorite flavor.

    I wouldn’t mind attending a chocolate palooza right about know, because I’m PMSing like MAD. I ate M&Ms yesterday, and I found one squished in my bed this morning. Umm…….

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Are you really PMSing or are you crying wolf hormones again? πŸ˜‰ That poor poor M&M…I hope it wasn’t a yellow one…he’s kinda cute! πŸ˜‰

  6. I’m not going to lie, I kind of want to go to Trader Joe’s just to see the pumpkin madness at this point. And try those waffles! I do love pumpkin, but considering my hatred of coffee I can’t get on the pumpkin spice coffee/latte thing.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Omg, I LOVE coffee and still can’t get on with it…I’ve tried a couple pumpkin spice flavors and they’ve not been what I was expecting at ALL! Ick!

  7. Those m&ms were such a disappointment. At least you and I both have our priorities in order and get free samps whenever the opportunity presents itself.

  8. Hallelujah….this post is music to my ears.
    People are going to think I brain washed you, and what’s funny is we didn’t even really talk about pumpkin. We also didn’t really touch my eggs (aside from that one meal) or my apples and I got more of both in my CSA last night. Eggs and apples…maybe I’ll have to hop on the Strange But Good train. Maybe in the form of a quiche….apple, cheddar, chives….hmmmm. You might be onto something here.

    Next time, I’ll make sure to take you to more grocery stores so you can peruse the liquor section.

    As an aside, Max just tried to jump into my lap and he didn’t make it. It was rather embarrassing, and I blame that extra pancake he ate yesterday. πŸ™‚

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Bahaha! Awww, poor Max! Looks like someone needs a few extra laps on the stairs this week, no? Next time…yes, because there will DEFINITELY be a next time! I can’t believe how much I miss you already! And omg, YES to apple quiche!! Mmm, and you should totally whip up a good apple and grilled cheese sandwich with that smoked gouda! Yum!

  9. I make all of my own pumpkin foods. I don’t like what the food industry thinks is “pumpkin spiced”. YUCK! Your oats look perfect! YUM!

  10. Eric says:

    I’m upset that there isn’t pumpkin spice latte yet at the QT next to my work!

  11. Emily says:

    I’M WITH YOU.
    Seriously. I like pumpkin as much as the next girl (well, maybe not QUITE as much), but I feel like stores are taking it a little too far this year. The massive pumpkin overload kind of takes the excitement out of it, in my opinion.
    Regardless, I have tried a couple of TJ’s new items. The croissants are actually really, really yummy!

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      “The massive pumpkin overload kind of takes the excitement out of it” <- YES!! That's exactly how I feel! It seems like this year, the stores have gone absolutely nuts! And great, now you're making me want that damn croissant! Haha!

  12. haha me and you have the same brain girl with the silken tofu mushes! i love making random concoctions out of silken tofu and i think your pumpkin one may be next on my list, but i think i’ll make it a panini like i did with mine. warm pumpkin tofu goodness. mmm sounds yummy!

  13. Chrystal says:

    I simply can’t be bought by pretty packaging and pumpkin labels no matter how hard they try. Not because I don’t like pumpkin, but because I prefer to make it myself.

    Ok..ok. I lie. I have one weakness. Coffee creamer. I can’t help it. I treat myself to one bottle every year.

    I don’t even buy canned pumpkin anymore unless (egawds) something happened and I ran out of the pumpkin I made during the season.

    So this weekend we are going to my cousins so the kiddo can meet up with the kids and the other children from school (oh, this should be a grand time) to go out into my cousins patch and pick out a pumpkin and we will all go back into the house to carve and paint. I will be stealing all of the seeds for roasting as they will go to my father-in-law for Christmas. They are his favorite gift. While the children have their grand time my mother and I will sneak back out and fill my truck with as many pumpkins as I can gather.

    Let the baking, puree, canning and freezing season begin….

    Pumpkin ‘spiced’ can shrivel up and go away. I won’t miss it. And ..M&M’s wow. How did I ever miss those?? LOL

    Note to self: I still need to buy some tofu. I knew I forgot something when I went shopping yesterday.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Oh wow! That sounds like one FULL weekend for sure…but loads of fun at the same time! I’ve never actually made my own pumpkin puree before. Actually, I’ve only ever cooked one pumpkin in my life…I’m much more of a kabocha kinda gal! And if I could keep myself from eating it straight up, I would try to make some kabocha puree! Haha!

  14. Hey I like your related posts at the bottom! Colorful!

    You didn’t like the M&Ms eh? I actually really like them! But I agree, they’re more cinnamon than pumpkin spice – and I am a fan of cinnamon canides (red hots, tamalaes, om nom nom).

    I got some pumpkin spice granola at the trader joes the other day. I was a bit bummed because I realized it was the same one they had last year, just repackaged it in a box instead of a bag. It’s good, but the raisins are like friggin rocks. I’m like you, I’d just rather make my own next time, but I can’t waste food, so I’m flicking those bitches out like booooogers πŸ˜‰

    PS, damn I need some tofu b/c I really wanna do this!

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Thanks girlie! I actually have no idea what my related posts plugin is doing right now…it’s supposed to show the first pic of the post, but it’s kinda got a mind of it’s own right now! But hey, at least it looks pretty! πŸ™‚ Ugh, there’s not much out there worse than a rock hard raisin! I’ve not tried their pumpkin spice granola but that maple praline one is like total CRACK!

      PS, I want you to get some tofu b/c I really want you to make this! πŸ˜‰

  15. I’ve got to agree with you – homemade pumpkin foods are totally the way to go. I recently tried the new pumpkin spice fro yo from Yogurty’s and after being excited about it for weeks, I was pretty disappointed with how it tasted: fake. That’s what I find with the Starbucks PSL too. However, I do love the PSL at a local independent coffee shop. Also the bakery where I worked over the summer makes an awesome pumpkin muffin!

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Ok, now I don’t feel so bad for “missing my chance” to try pumpkin froyo last week…probably just another disappointment! Baked goods are an entirely different story though…can’t say I’ve met a pumpkin flavored bread, muffin, cake, pie, etc that I haven’t loved! And I remember you talking about that muffin and how good it was!

  16. You can never ever have too much pumpkin! I can’t wait to see more pumpkin recipes from you! πŸ™‚

  17. Sara @ fitcupcaker says:

    The only thing I was pumped about at TJ’s was the pumpkin chai tea latte, which I still havent tried yet, and the waffle/pancake mix although I make my own pancakes all the time, so I havent even opened that yet either! I like making homemade pumpkin treats too! You have a ton of pumpkin, I have one jar!

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Ok, now I did buy some of the waffle/pancake mix last year…it’s not bad…especially topped with fresh peaches! Yeah, I totally broke it out in the middle of the summer this year and then, months later decided September was too early for pumpkin! Haha!

  18. I’ve been excited to try those pumpkin spice M&M’s… but, not anymore. πŸ˜‰ I think you’ve saved me the disappointment.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Yeah, totally not worth it! Unless you like that raw feeling your tongue gets from eating hot cinnamon-flavored things! πŸ˜‰

  19. Khushboo says:

    I have got to agree with you about pumpkin-related foods: SO overrated! I remember mixing canned purΓ©e with Greek yogurt and ended up being so disappointed with the end result- not my thing! The best pumpkin food, in my ever so humble opinion, would be the pumpkin-shaped Reeses. Although I won’t lie, this pumpkin “Tofana” porridge sounds pretty epic too πŸ™‚

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      I’m not usually a big fan of flavored yogurts, but that is definitely where they come in handy! A vanilla (or better yet, COCONUT!) flavored yogurt mixed with pumpkin puree has been one of my latest obsessions!

  20. Holy Geebus that’s some crazy pumpkinage. You know what’s sad? That sort of thing doesn’t exist here in Canada — heck, aside from a few extra turkeys in the meat aisle and bags of fresh cranberries in the produce section, we don’t even get all that excited about Thanksgiving. Why do you guys always have to do things bigger and better than us?!?

    And I’m totally with you on the pumpkin spice thing. I’m usually disappointed with it because it ends up tasting really artificial. My latest disappointment was with a pumpkin spice tea that has the most ridiculous aftertaste. Ugh. And I came across pumpkin spice K-cups online, but after hearing a lot of negative reviews, I ended up passing on those as well. Oh poop.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Omg, I know exactly what you mean about the pumpkin tea! I got some of that last year and it was horrible! And the pumpkin spice coffee I found at Target a couple of months back was so spicy that I had to mix it with other coffees just to get through the bag…which I FINALLY finished this week! Oh and I think all of just should prove that you just need to come to the states and move in with me! I do have TWO extra bedrooms…you can take your pick! πŸ˜‰

  21. Some things should NOT be pumpkin-fied- its blasphemy!

    I guess thats why in australia we are fortunate that its kind of seen as a strictly savory food so no quirky takes in chocolate/teas/coffees/hallmark products!

    I can guarantee that toufana oatmeal variation will be made- purely because I ordered 4 packets of mori nu from iherb a while back to make this egg salad thing and still have 3 left.

  22. Lee says:

    Go back and get those pumpkin macaroons. They’re awesome.

  23. Oookay, don’t hate me for saying it but I’m glad the Pumpkin Spice M&Ms were a disappointment. Not because it means you were disappointed [sorry for that] but this way there’s at least one food less to be jealous of. We can’t get pumpkin spice-anything (!) over here after all. Though while all of the items in the first picture sound tantalizing all I really want is canned pumpkin. Get on board already, Germany!
    Oh, but one thing we -do- have over here are liquor sales at every grocery ;). When did you say you’d come over?!

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      That’s one thing I don’t understand…why are pumpkin treats just an American thing? We need to see about getting you some pumpkin STAT!

  24. Always for ALL THE THINGS πŸ˜‰

    Sorry to hear the pumpkin spice m and ms were as disappointing as the carrot cake m&ms I told you about that I had earlier in the year.

    We don’t have pumpkin spice at all here so I guess I don’t know what we are missing out on.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Well, I guess I pretty much see what I was “missing” with those carrot cake ones! I had thought about going back to try the candy corn ones (I actually hate candy corn, but I got some candy corn flavored coffee from Target and it’s pretty good), but I’m sure those will be yet another disappointment! Guess I’ll just stick with the tried and true…can’t go wrong with the plain ones!

  25. I LOVE that you arranged a pumpkin photo shoot in the middle of TJs. I expect nothing less from you, of course. And thank you for putting my M&M curiosity to rest. I will no longer feel bad that I can’t have them right now. Homemade pumpkin spiced stuff always wins.

    That logo re-make just made my day. I might have to steal it. And that recipe. You know I’m all over that protein-packed pumpkin creation.

    P.S. Why DON’T they make pumpkin Kool Aid? You need to present that idea to them and make millions.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Oh yeah, happy to be a foodie martyr whenever necessary! Lol But pumpkin Kool Aid?! Think I’ll have to pass on that one! Omg, I can’t even imagine! Ick!!!

  26. Kat says:

    hmmm well that’s an epic disappointment about the m&ms, but honestly that’s why I was waiting to buy them. I knew one of my pumpkin obsessed blog buddies would snag them before me. Sorry I used you as a guinea pig (but you are by far the cutest guinea pig I’ve ever laid eyes on!) I’m not a HUGE pumpkin pie fan, but I do like pumpkin flavored stuff. Pumpkin breads, muffins, cakes, butters. In fact, I am eating some pumpkin oats as I type this, and they are mighty delicious if I do say. Although it could be the massive amount of peanut butter on top…

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Well, that’s got to top the list on compliments…I’m a cute guinea pig! haha! <- or should I say "squeak squeak"? πŸ˜‰ And I'm right there with ya on all the baked pumpkin treats! I just pinned your little pumpkin dippers last night...definitely have to try those!

  27. I am completely with you on this one. Don’t get me wrong, I am ALL about the pumpkin craze. Fully onboard. But I will take fresh or even canned pumpkin over fake pumpkin products, thank you very much. Real pumpkin is jus plain good, why mess with that? I think this goes along with our mutual agreement that food that comes out of our own kitchen tends to be much yummier than store-bought stuff anyways. Bring on the pumpkin baked goods, pumpkin oats, and pumpkin yogurt bowls.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      A-MEN! I hate how they’re always trying to add more spice than needed…it totally covers up the great pumpkin flavor! Mmm, I just had a bowl of pumpkin oats for breakfast AND lunch today! #noshame πŸ˜‰

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      I would take canned pumpkin STRAIGHT UP over some of the crap they try to pass as “pumpkin spice”! Which is actually what I did just the other day while I was fixing my SECOND bowl of pumpkin oats in ONE day! #noshame #onanyofthat πŸ˜‰

  28. I love pumpkin and chocolate… πŸ™‚ Chocolate goes with just about anything! πŸ™‚ I have still yet to have any pumpkin… crazy! I’m getting some this weekend!

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      What?! Girl, we’re midway through October now, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do! #mytanlooksbetterthanyours πŸ˜‰

  29. Cassie says:

    I’m KIND of a sucker for all things pumpkin… no big letdowns YET but I don’t let myself have anything artificial so that’s probably why…

  30. Pingback: Crock Pot Pumpkin Chili |

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