Hello people. It’s been 7 months of no JoyPerks updated posts (I typed at least one draft but never published it). But, please do not fret. I have finally made time (aka I complained and #thehubs literally added it to our shared calendar so I can’t complain I don’t have time because it is on the calendar) to do what I like and write/type random posts about mediocre sh*t to help you remember you are not the only basic person with first world problems. The hashtag will be a series of blog posts because we are in Fall/Autumnal weather (my favorite time of the year) and because it’s my wedding hashtag and it’s fitting for this season.
Does anyone do this thing where they go to the grocery store with a plan and then end up getting all the cool snacks that they want because they don’t cost that much and maybe they’ll be good?
Does anyone do this thing where you also decide to do a haul and just buy everything of a specific flavor and try it all out? Many years ago #thehubs and I went on a crazy “buy and taste every pumpkin beer you see” adventure (not all in the same day but spread out throughout the Fall/Winter season). I don’t really care for pumpkin beer anymore because of this adventure.
Well, this Fall we decided to try everything pumpkin-ish (flavored with pumpkin spice or made with pumpkin) we could find and try it. We decided to rate the edible goods 0-5 pumpkins (with 0- Don’t purchase and 5-I will be upset if you are a reader and don’t purchase this because it was so amazing).
Here are ratings and the food/drinks we tried so far. Pleas note: #thehubs gave things half pumpkins which I have decided is not allowed. So I may have rated this higher or lower if he gave a half-pumpkin score.
Budlight Seltzer- Pumpkin Spice Flavor: 0/5 pumpkins. Not good. Tastes like how a bad Bath and Body Works Pumpkin Spice candle would taste if you took a bite of it. Atrocious. However, our friend did drink most of it (but I think it was mainly to prove a point and mess with my head).
Creme-filled pumpkin spice rolled wafers from Target: 3/5 pumpkins. #thehubs gave it 4/5 and I give it 2/5, so we averaged the score. I think they are just too sweet and not enough of the pumpkin spice flavor. Also half of them were already broken when I opened the packaged. They are too brittle.
Spiced pumping Madeleine cookies from Trader Joe’s: 5/5 pumpkins. Disclaimer is that I don’t know what the texture of a Madeleine cookie should be but these were soft and had great flavor. We meant to only have a few but we ate the whole bag and I have no negative feelings about doing that.
Pumpkin Spice Hummus from Trader Joe’s: 3/5 pumpkins. Sweet but confusing. Tried it with celery and it does not go well with celery. I think it needs either some chocolate covered cracker to go on or maybe a sweeter cracker or maybe with pretzels. Do not attempt to eat this with real vegetables. Not bad but not good enough to get again (I’d rather eat a savory hummus). Better than we thought it was going to be.
Pumpkin cheesecake sandwich cookies from Target: 3/5 pumpkins. Outside was dry but the flling was tasty. I feel it needed more pumpkin flavor and needed to be dunked (perhaps in ice cold milk or hot black coffee prior to eating because otherwise they were dry as a rock). #thehubs thought they were really good and kept eating them (he gives it 4/5 pumpkins).
La Colombe Pumpkin Spice Draft Latte: 2/5 pumpkins. Not enough pumpkin spice flavor. Surprisingly not too sweet. Also we are black coffee/americano/coldbrew drinkers mainly, so lattes in general are not our favorite.
Pumpkin Pancake and Waffle Mix from Trader Joe’s: 2/5 pumpkins. The smell as not only the mix was opened but as it was being prepared was intoxicating (in the best of ways) but in regards to flavor I think it could have used more. We will probably use the rest of this mix later because it was easy.
Greek nonfat pumpkin flavored yogurt from Trader Joe’s: 2/5 pumpkins. It was ok. Nothing special. Not enough pumpkin really.
Tazo pumpkin spice chai black tea: 5/5 pumpkins. Good smell. Deliciously flavorful. The only problem is it is black tea so it has caffeine and I can’t/shouldn’t drink it all day long when I want to be immersed in pumpkin spice coziness.
Pumpkin cranberry crisps from Trader Joe’s: 4/5 pumpkins. Hint of pumpkin. They should be called Cranberry pumpkin twists consider the flavor profile is more cranberry. They were good crisps and good for dipping. Probably good to serve with baked brie/jam dish.
Pumpkin tortilla chips from Trader Joe’s: 2/5 pumpkins. They have the dusting of the pumpkin spice flavors and are sweet adjacent but not. They seem a bit confusing and might benefit form addition of sea salt? Just not sure that I see myself eating these with anything.
Pumpkin Spicy Samosas fromTrader Joe’s: 5/5 pumpkins. They are mini so buy more than one box because you will be eating so many. TJ’s doesn’t joke around when they use the word spicy. So utterly delicious, pumpkin shines through, crispy and tasty. Might go to TJ’s now and see we if we can find more.
Pumpkin butter from Trader Joes: 5/5 pumpkins. Good enough to put on toast or an english muffin. I’m also tempted to add this into smoothies and rugelach. Sweet but not too sweet. Has a good after taste.
Spicy pumpkin curry simmer sauce: 5/5 pumpkins. Spice builds but IT IS THE BEST. IT IS AMAZING, TASTES GOOD and so easy to make dinner with. Saute chopped up protein/ frozen veggies, pour sauce, cook some and then add this concoction onto rice. I LOVE THIS SO MUCH we went to TJ’s after dinner with this to get more. Its just everything I want in a comfort gravy. Flavor keeps changing too…and builds on each bite. Hints of sweet pumpkin shine through.
Joyperks 