Pumpkin mania



Pumpkin soup
photo credit: uniquefallwedding.com



There’s an old and very well known saying (thanks to Ron Burgundy who just couldn’t get it right!): “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Well right now in the USA the thing to do is really anything to do with fall harvest or Halloween.  America and its people are very seasonal and will take any excuse to decorate their houses, yards or to hang wreaths anywhere they can.

So naturally, pumpkins are all around and not just as decorations; they are being implemented into recipes, drinks, clothing and jewelery. That’s why I have set myself a mission to try every consumable pumpkin product I can.

As I write this, I sip on my very first pumpkin latte from Starbucks and I really like it. It’s similar to a cinnamon latte but I guess they use pumpkin spice sprinkle instead of cinnamon.

Pumpkin beer, pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin mousse, pumpkin porridge, cookies, crepes, waffles and smoothies are among the things I plan to try.



Pumpkin cake
photo credit: countryliving.com



Pumpkin Mousse Parfaitphoto credit: childfreechic.com

Pumpkin pie
photo credit: favim.com



Pumpkin beer
photo credit: amymittelman.com




Pumpkin coffee
photo credit: lbsimpson.blogspot.com

Fallin' in love

Today marks the official arrival of my favourite seasons: here in the US it's autumn and back home in Australia: spring. The flower shows Australia-wide during September are truly spectacular, with the golden wattle  (Australia's national flower) even celebrating its very own day to commemorate the passing of the chilly winter month (no that’s not a typo!) and to embrace the start of almost 11 months of gorgeous warm weather and longer days.

Although that sounds awesome, anyone who's lived in Queensland, Australia for more than a year knows that the changing seasons are very uneventful. Sure, the outside temperature slightly declines, the days become an hour shorter and certain flowers no longer bloom, but there is no magical display of seasonal festivity like there is here in the US.  

Fall, as autumn is known in the US, is the most miraculous and visually tantalizing season of them all. Nationwide, the pilgrims are still remembered and honoured through decorations of harvest vegetables and grains that are seen adorning houses, shopping centers, street lamps and basically anywhere they can be fitted. The pumpkins, which abroad are an association with Halloween, are in fact a harvest icon and sit proudly in all shapes, colours and sizes on porches everywhere!

It’s hard not to get swept up in the breeze that scatters leaves of yellow, orange and red all around. The atmosphere becomes so cozy as sweaters, coats and gloves are taken out of storage and gas lanterns and fireplaces are lit ablaze once more, while friends and families gather together inside to watch the football madness or sip cocoa by the fire.

This Australian can’t help fallin’ in love with the splendour of all that is fall.