Punkin Love

My love for pumpkin runs deeps. My favorite part of fall is the return of wintersquash, and I get twitterpatted when the organic canned pumpkin appears on the Trader Joes shelves. While I have never had the (in)famous Starbucks Pumpkin Latte, I know I will adore everything that is graced with the presence of said squash. I love it so much that my roommate remarked that I can't even take the time to enunciate all consonants in puMPkin. I have a sincere infatuation with punkin.

So I decided to throw a pumpkin party.

The Eats
I made the famous Isa Chandra's pumpkin pie brownies. Yes they are vegan, no they aren't exactly healthy (although I DID sub ww pastry flour for all purpose) Yes they are DELICIOUS. but apparently I failed to take a picture...

I am currently without a blender or food processor (oh gods of Vitamix, bless me now!) but I really wanted to make Ricki's Curried Pumpkin Hummus so I took TJ's original hummus, added pumpkin and the spices and called it good. and it was. (girl's gotta be resourceful ya know!)
Sarah brought pumpkin whoopie pies, homemade!
Naveen brought vegan pumpkin pie, done two ways
1/2 with cashew cream, whole wheat crust, loved it! He also brought a vegan pumpkin cupcake from Kickass Cupcakes. Naveen always has my back
Olivia's mom could not believe they were vegan they were so good. Once again vegan doesn't always mean healthy... but i love them all.
oh yea and 2 mothers attended my party. it was fantastic

Pam and Julie. As wonderful as their daughters

I also made pumpkin syrup, which didn't get much use during the night, but was delicious in my coffee the next morning
Kerry brought the most amazing pumpkin cinnamon rolls-VEGAN!!! She kindly posted the recipe here, they were beyond fantastic. I've never made my own vegan cinnamon rolls, because I remember the intense cinnamon roll process with my mother as a kid.
DrinkUp!
The Line-Up

I ravaged 4 of the liquor stores within 1 mi radius of my apartment for their pumpkin beer. (and made the morning of the Star Market Liquor Store cashier buy purchasing a $45 variety of brews. at 8:30 am.)
The Starting Line-up: Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale, Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin, Shipyard PumpkinHead, Southern Tier PumKing, Dogfish Punkin, Post Road Pumpkin Ale.
My fabulous guests added Wolevers Organic, Saranc Pumpkin Ale, Great Harvest Pumpkin Ale, a growler of Opa Opa Pumpkin Ale.
our fridge was full of pumpkin beer. not a bad thing
Won my Heart:
My favorite pumpkin beers were the Saranc Pumpkn Ale, Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin and Southern Tier Pumking. Sweet like pumpkin pie! (Full Disclosure-I never claimed to have a refined beer palate, but do have an infamous sweet tooth!) I can't claim to be a real beer reviewer, so if you want to see the "experts" opinions, check it Beeradvocate's Top Pumpkin Ales
The Piece de resistance:
I made pumpkin vodka. (1 L vanilla vodka, 5 cinnamon sticks, 1 sugar pumpkin. let sit for 10 days). It was beyond amazing. Making it again soon, i promise. Silky smooth and no need for mixers.

Cheers! here's to the people that helped make my pumpkin fantasies come true:

Getting so much beta-carotenePumpkin float: Pumpkin beer + pumpkin ice cream. CJ approved.

Did you know pumpkins can be incorporated in your workout?? why notEmily and I

Needless to say, the party was a smashing success (despite the lack of Smashing Pumpkin songs blasting in the background) My belly was feeling pumpkin-wonderful by the end of the night, but not at all sick of that sweet orange gourd.

Any favorite pumpkin recipes? Halloween costume ideas?? I'm a huge halloween lovah, so
Have a Happy Happy Halloween!!