Quick: From dry ingredients in a box to cooking in the oven in less than 5 minutes, I’d say that’s pretty quick!
Bread: My wife even liked it, and considering that she’s not exactly a fan of pumpkin … I don’t know – maybe that says something?  It was alright, but not great.  Arguably on par with the classic Pillsbury version, but not exactly comparable to a Bob Evans or something…
How Do You Pronounce “Krusteaz”?: I have absolutely no idea – the only way I even managed to spell it was because I had the photo right there to copy from!

Alternative Label: Regular, Ordinary Crumb Cake

Foreword: Sometimes I worry that I may come off as a bit of a curmudgeon with some of these reviews when I’m exceptionally critical on a product’s failings, but I guess I’m just of the belief that when you opt to list a specific flavor not only on the label, but actually in the name of your product, call me crazy, but I just think that there should actually be some sort of marginal resemblance to be found within the flavors of said product.
Actual Commentary: I’ll admit that I actually had kind of high hopes for this one – I literally caught it out of the corner of my eye while grocery shopping this evening and the crumb topping did look intriguing, but maybe I should just know better by now when it comes to store brand products.  While this is a perfectly moist and sweet and tasty cake loaf thingy, the best I can hope for this product is that it was merely mislabeled and that somewhere there’s a regular crumb cake floating around that’s just as pumpkin-y delicious as can be.
Epilogue: Your label indicated, “It’s new!” but your flavors beg, “Try again…”

Special Guest Appearance By: Domino’s Chocolate Lava Crunch Cake

First Impressions: I really wasn’t sure what to expect of this one because I’ve never had Publix-brand ice cream and I typically opt for Edy’s as of late, however this is one of those instances where it was actually good to try new things!
Taste Test?: A little more sweet than its Edy’s counterpart, I think I would argue that the flavor in the Publix version is actually a bit stronger and more developed as well. It’s not quite nearing the area of overbearing or obnoxiously sweet, but I think bold is a good way to describe the abundance of flavor in every bite.  Very rich, sweet, and a great spice – definitely meets my overall philosophy for this site … go big or go home!
Bonus Features: On top of the flavors in the cream itself, Publix also has one other special treat hidden in their ice cream that made for a nice surprise – small, crunchy bits of pie crust that although weren’t really needed thanks to the wonderful flavors, did add an interesting texture that made it stand out from just a regular tub of ice cream.
Ranking: To date I’ve reviewed just under half a dozen different varieties of pumpkin ice cream and Publix’s version falls squarely in the middle.  Unfortunately for Publix, the likes of Cold Stone and Ben & Jerry’s have just set the bar really high in this category, but I still wouldn’t turn it away if brought out to *my* dinner table after an incredible, Thanksgiving feast!

1. Cold Stone Pumpkin Ice Cream
2. Ben & Jerry’s Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream
3. Publix Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream
4. Edy’s Slow Churned Pumpkin Ice Cream
5. Pumpkin Pie Blizzard from Dairy Queen

Preface: Normally I would avoid anything with the word “flax” in the name because, really, what the hell is “flax,” anyways?!  Frankly, I still don’t know, but at least I’m still alive today to tell you all about it, so there’s always that…
Granola Gripes: Also, I probably made it clear in my last granola-bar-related rant that non-chewy granola bars aren’t exactly my forte.  For some reason I have memories of the crunchy, “good for you” ones being the ones the kids whose cheap parents wouldn’t pop for the Quaker ones would always bring in and want to trade … as if!
Forcing It For The Greater Good: That said, I decided to give these another try because I thought that Kashi deserved a chance to redeem themselves, and my doctor has been hinting that “it wouldn’t kill me to eat something healthy every once in a while,” anyways!  So despite not being my personal preference, I choked them down anyways and truth be told … they really weren’t half bad.  The flavor somewhat varies from bar to bar – I’ve had some that were pretty great and some that were arguably plain ones that had gotten mispackaged, but overall the cinnamon and other spices offered a nice distraction from the fact that I was basically eating as a wild chipmunk would … if chipmunks did their grocery shopping at Publix, anyways…
Kashi Rating: Partially redeemed, definitely a step up from those ones with the fruit stuff on top!  Still, I think you can do better, and I know it’s not really your thing, but I have one word for you – chewy.

Curiosity: How does a flameless candle even work???
Exposé: That was basically the question that landed this little doozy in my cart while I was grocery shopping the other day because call me a guy, but I guess I just always thought that fire was a key component in how candles operate as a whole!  Needless to say, my curiosity got the best of me, and it didn’t hurt that it was a pumpkin-scented candle because otherwise I probably wouldn’t have really cared…
Impact: The scent, while nice, certainly doesn’t really do much to fill up a room like your traditional, fire-powered candle normally would.
Reason: This thing is pretty much just a mini Christmas light bulb seated in a column of wax, so I guess the only thing that really triggers the release of the scents in the wax is the heat emitted from the bulb itself … which in my experience wasn’t much.  I mean, I could smell pumpkin if I stuck my nose down in the thing and at least I could safely do that without worrying about my nose catching on fire, but still, if you’re looking to fill your home with the comforting scents of the fall harvest, just be a man and buy a real candle.

Preface: With advance apologies to my local Publix Bakery, as I think I may not have exactly the correct name for this delicious, albeit extremely rich treat…
Inspiration: Sometimes great pumpkin treats appear when you least expect them, such as in this case, where a simple trip to the store for baking supplies also turned up a great option for dessert as well!
The Breakdown: The cake – incredibly moist, no doubt thanks partially to the cream, and also bearing a very sweet pumpkin flavor … this is what so many pumpkin desserts that I sample should taste like, but often times fall short of the mark.  The frosting – a sort of cream cheese blend, was incredibly sweet – pretty much what you would expect (and enjoy!) on a carrot cake, and I’ve got to say that the combination works equally well with pumpkin, too.  The crumble topping – this was a bit of a mystery to me because the rest of the cake and frosting was so overwhelming that I honestly didn’t really pay much attention to it, but I’m pretty sure even just by looking back at its appearance that it had some flavor to it also.
Recommend?: Definitely – this one probably takes the cake so far as the best pumpkin dessert that I’ve tasted this year!   I should probably also note that I did circle back later on in the week to see if I could jot down the name for this post and they didn’t have any out at the time, so I’m not sure how often even during the holiday season they have this little treat available … needless to say, if you find yourself passing by the bakery case and notice some on display, you’re most certainly going to want to pick up a slice or three for dessert that night while you can.

Spanish-to-English Translation: Pumpkin Soup with Ginger
Where?: natural/organic section of my local Publix
Whim?: Yeah, pretty much.  Obviously I don’t really expect to find much pumpkin-y goodness on the shelves this time of year and I actually almost passed over this one, too.
Actual Reaction: Not what I was expecting…
Elaboration: Ever wonder what it would be like to liquefy a pumpkin pie and serve it beside a sandwich?!  Well, that’s pretty much what this sporadic lunchtime attempted treat tasted like … which is too bad because it sounded and actually smelled pretty good.  Great fragrance, but quite heavy and a bit strong … at least for this particular meal.
Caveat: For what it’s worth, I’m not quite ready to throw in the towel on this soup just yet because part of me thinks that the atmosphere and setting itself may have played a factor in its demise.  Think about it: pumpkin pie and its likeness are generally considered comfort foods to help us through the cold and unrelenting winters … and even here in Florida, there’s still a definite difference in temperatures between then and now!  Plus, me thinks that the grilled ham and cheese sandwich that it was accompanying wasn’t exactly doing it any favors, either.
Verdict On-Hold: Fortunately, Nueva Cocina Sopa De Calabaza con Jengibre (try saying that three times fast!) came in a packet big enough for many servings, so I’ve tucked the remainder safely away and I’ll do my best to revisit this intriguing pumpkin option later on this fall when the weather is a bit more crisp and blustery, if you know what I mean…

Level of Surprise & Excitement: high!!!
Explanation: I know that I’ve been slacking a little with regards to pumpkin ice creams this year, but in my defense I only saw Edy’s Pumpkin Ice Cream in the store a handful of times and by the time I had the room in our freezer to warrant picking up a carton, they’d already been shifted aside in favor of the Peppermint and Eggnog flavors for Christmas. If anybody, I had always expected the great Ben & Jerry to be the ones to put out an awesome pumpkin-flavored ice cream, but never did I find such a flavor … until this limited edition kind of day.
Flavor in Comparison: Last year I reveled in the flavors of Edy’s and Cold Stone, but in comparison neither hold a candle to Ben & Jerry’s – simply put, this was an awesome carton of ice cream! It tackled the delectable combination of pumpkin and cheesecake previously sampled a la muffin, but did it better. Smooth, creamy, and full of a rich pumpkin flavor in every spoonful.
Ranking with Regards to Other Ben & Jerry’s Flavors: Fairly high, at least in my opinion. My favorites have always been Peanut Butter Cup, Karamel Sutra, and of course, the always patriotic Stephen Colbert’s AmeriCone Dream, but as seasonal substitute, Pumpkin Cheesecake is a nice addition to the catalog and I would certainly welcome its presence in freezer sections on a more regular basis!

Found At: Wal-Mart, Publix
Flavor Rush: Like any ‘nog, T.G. Lee’s pumpkin eggnog is very thick and creamy, and although the pumpkin flavor itself doesn’t assault you like a bad movie that people keep flocking to the theaters to see anyways.  It’s almost as if the pumpkin lingers back, waiting to introduce itself when the time is just right.  When enjoyed with a fresh (out of the wrapper) pumpkin muffin like I had, it made for a quite enjoyable pumpkin breakfast!
Best Enjoyed: in front of a roaring fire, with the quaint smell of homemade pumpkin pie wafting in from the kitchen after a delicious Thanksgiving feast

Caloric Side Note: If you’re wondering just how many calories are in a glass of this splendid holiday beverage, you probably shouldn’t be drinking it!  They say that the delicious eatings of the winter holidays lead many people to pack on some serious pounds and at 200 calories for a 1/2 cup serving of this yummy ‘nog, chugging down the better portion of a bottle with breakfast will pretty much do in your caloric limits for the day.

Of course, you should still drink up and enjoy anyways because:
A) it’s delicious!
B) it’s pumpkin-y delicious!!
C) New Year’s resolutions are just around the corner and you don’t want to come to the table empty handed!!!