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!!!