Tag Archives: pumpkinpalooza 2020

PREMIER PROTEIN PUMPKIN SPICE

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Welcome to day 18 of Tag Sale Tastes’ Pumpkinpalooza 2020!

Today we’re sipping Premier Protein Pumpkin Spice:

Each pack contains 4 11.5-ounce cartons:

This is a limited edition beverage “to celebrate this fall season”:

A hefty wedge of pumpkin pie and cinnamon sticks adorn the package, which advertises that it’s low fat, with 160 calories and 30 grams of protein:

If you’re wondering when you might want to drink this, suggestions include as a part of your breakfast, for a satisfying snack, as a base in smoothies, and in your coffee:

The ingredients are a difficult to pronounce potpourri with no pumpkin or spices identified:

Let’s try a glass, shall we?

I was prepared to be disappointed, and the pale beige milky beverage did not let me down.  It did not taste of pumpkin or spice.  It tasted of metal and sadness.  You can serve it over ice, in coffee, in a smoothie, whatever, it will still taste of sadness with a touch of defeat.  Come to think of it, this is an appropriate 2020 fall beverage, if you know what I mean.

Rating:  1 pumpkin (out of 5)

GOOD & GATHER PUMPKIN SPICE GRANOLA

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Welcome to day 17 of Tag Sale Tastes’ Pumpkinpalooza 2020!

My daughter joined in the pumpkin fun by surprising me with a bag of Good & Gather Pumpkin Spice Granola: 

The orange package has a fat little pumpkin, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and pumpkin seeds:

But the only pumpkin spice-y ingredient listed is cinnamon bark (pumpkin seeds are a nice addition, but they’re not pumpkin spice-y):

Let’s take a look, shall we:

Looks like granola.  Usually I appreciate a visual clue, like the orange tint to the Pumpkin Spice Cheerios, but in this instance, I am glad that the granola was not orange.  In comparison to many other granolas, this one was quite a bit lower in calories — 1/3 cup is 110 calories, compared, for example, with Bear Naked Maple Pecan Granola, which is 120 calories for 1/4 cup.  The granola was dry and crunchy, presumably because it contained less oil, and was tasty eaten dry out of hand (I’ve never actually eaten a bowl of granola with milk), lightly spiced and not too sweet.  It makes a great snack.

But wait — the package has a “serving suggestion” — “layer granola into a jar or small bowl with yogurt and chopped fresh apples”:

Well, sprinkled on yogurt is, in my opinion, the highest and best use of granola, so I gave it a whirl, although I used a perfectly ripe fuyu persimmon instead of an apple:

I loved this delicious breakfast treat.  A few notes:  First, I layered it in a jar so I could show you the layers, but I am happy to see that for the most part the “food in a jar thing” is a thing of the past.  Have you ever eaten a salad out of a Mason jar?  It makes for cute Instagram pics, but is one of the stupider ways to eat a salad.  Second, I used Greek Gods Honey Greek Style Yogurt, which is our favorite yogurt by a long shot.  Third, if you have never tried a fuyu persimmon, I encourage you to do so now while they’re in season.  When they’re first ripe, they’re firm and crunchy, with a taste something like a combination of apple and carrot.  As they ripen, however, and become slightly soft (not mushy), they develop a wonderful sweet honey-like flavor.  Treat yourself to a Harvest Parfait this fall!

Rating:  5 pumpkins (out of 5)