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JENN McKINLAY: I remember when my publisher accepted the title of this book, my editor said, "Your release date is in April, prepare for some pushback about pumpkin spice being in a title being released before September."
Okay, I knew there were pumpkin spice haters -- to which, I say, "whatever" -- and I was duly prepared to defend my title to any and all. I was like, "Come at me, bruhs, with your pumpkin spice hatred."
Clearly, I had no idea I was going to be releasing Cupcake Bakery Mystery #12 (We're at a DOZEN!!!) in the middle of a global pandemic and needless to say the haters have bigger windmills to tilt at than my modest cupcake based cozy mystery. I think this is most likely because no one has any idea of what day it is anyway. At this point, if someone told me it was September, I'd believe it. So, there's that.
For me, a Pumpkin Spice Latte is something I enjoy once or maybe twice in autumn, when it's finally below 90 degrees here in the desert. It's like my love of the Shamrock Shake every March. The Hooligans and I live for those but we only have one or maybe two -- okay, they probably have five of six. It's a happy spring ritual that I don't really think that much about.
But here's what I learned about the PSL (pumpkin spice latte), arguably the start of all things pumpkin spice, and the controversy surrounding it. Pumpkin Spice Lattes were unleashed to the world by Stabucks in August of 2003. The flavor peaked in popularity in 2014 but has become controversial because, as something enjoyed predominantly by women, it must be derided and mocked or so the people watching the controversy say.
Given that I write cozies, rom-coms, and now women's fiction (all genres considered less than by the mainstream, because they are predominantly women centric - we won't even get into the fact that their markets are huge and they earn WAY more money than most other genres...ahem) this is territory with which I am quite familiar.
As my friends Leah and Bea, from The Ripped Bodice Bookstore, wrote:
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| Read More: Here There was also this terrific piece from Vox: Pumpkin spice lattes — and the backlash, and the backlash to the backlash — explained: They talk about the life cycle of pumpkin spice, which has come full circle with people (women) pushing back and defending their choice of pumpkin laced coffee by saying (I'm paraphrasing here), "The world is on fire, let me enjoy my pumpkiny goodness in peace." I don't know about you, but I can totally respect that. So, Reds and Readers, do you enjoy Pumpkin Spice (you knew I had to ask) and if not, what is a food you enjoy that is only seasonal? Now here's A DOZEN cupcakes for you: Crazy, am I right? |
Happy Book Birthday, Jenn!
ReplyDeleteI am so anxious to read your book . . . .
but Pumpkin Spice Latte, not so much. However, I promise you, my youngest daughter loves it enough for both of us. She gets the pumpkin and I always, always, always, have the Caffè Mocha . . . .
Thank you, Joan! Your daughter is my people!
DeleteI'm a fan of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, but I'm glad it's because a couple a season is really all I need. For those who complain about pumpkin spice and anything pumpkin being everywhere during the fall, I say find something better to do. They aren't going to steal my joy.
ReplyDeleteJenn, I think that the release of Pumpkin Spice Peril now is a stroke of genius and will work well. It reminds people that there will be fall after this hard spring and probably hard summer, and people will embrace that reminder. We're all looking forward to a fall when we hope life is back to a more normal state of living. So, Happy Book Birthday, Jenn, and let the pumpkin spice fill the air with great reading and hope.
Oh, I almost forgot the question. A couple of foods that I enjoy seasonally here are blueberries and tomatoes. There's nothing better than a BLT with fresh locally grown tomatoes or blueberries on cereal that are locally grown and in season.
^^^^^What Kathy said ^^^^^
DeleteLet's hope so! Aaaaaaand now I want a BLT!
DeleteI do not like pumpkin spice lattes - because I don't like coffee. I enjoy some pumpkin spice things from Trader Joes (although I'm blanking on what right now). I'm more of a peppermint guy in December, but I enjoy a couple of pumpkin spice things in the fall.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the book and on #12! It's another great one.
Thank you, Mark! It's not Christmas until I have some peppermint stick ice cream!
DeleteI found some peppermint ice cream at Food 4 Less last week, so naturally I bought some.
DeleteI like pumpkin and related spices in pie and cake and so forth. I’ve never had a pumpkin spice latte and, honestly, probably never will. I’m afraid I’m a purist when it comes to coffee. Happy book birthday, Jenn!
ReplyDeleteHa! My best friend calls flavored coffee "candy coffee". I can't drink it in the morning but it is my afternoon pick me up.
DeleteI do like eating pumpkin pie but I must admit, I have NEVER tried a pumpkin spice latte. I am a coffee snob too and will not drink any flavoured coffee (drinking my plain dark roast coffee as I type this).
ReplyDeleteBut I do love the Cupcake mysteries, and can't believe it's book #12. Congratulations Jenn, looking forward to reading this one soon!
One food that I love to eat that is only seasonal (and coming soon) are fiddleheads. This means spring has finally arrived!
Grace: I lived one year in Fredericton, NB and I was not ever able to acquire the taste for fiddleheads, but they surely do herald spring. They are a maritime provinces delicacy, are they not?
DeleteAmanda, I guess they are common in Eastern Canada since they also grow in Ontario (where I live) and Quebec. I love asparagus and they are similar in taste/texture.
DeleteFiddleheads! My mom made those every year! And elderberry pie in late summer :)
DeleteLucky you, Jenn! No elderberries here in Ontario.
DeleteAnd I ordered my copy of Pumpkin Spice Peril and it should arrive next week.
Congratulations on an even dozen of Cupcake Bakery books, Jenn. I hope you have a fun launch day, but please don't ever bring the actual flavour of pumpkin spice anywhere close to a cup of coffee of mine! I'm a purist, and like my coffee to taste -- well, like coffee.
ReplyDeleteAs for seasonal foods, I'm dreaming of fresh local asparagus in a pasta dish with goat cheese, green peas and pine nuts. The asparagus will be bright green, tangy in flavour and just off-crunchy: yum! The local crop won't be here for a bit yet, and won't last long when it arrives, and is all the more precious for it.
Once I learned to cook asparagus properly, I loved it. I think too many people over cook it.
DeleteAnd thank you!!!
DeleteCongratulations! I truly don't care what other people put in their coffee, but for me, pumpkin spice goes in pies at Thanksgiving, and maybe to flavor a quick bread.
ReplyDeleteLike Amanda, it's the asparagus coming up in my patch right now that I crave, sweet local strawberries in June, handfuls of plump blueberries picked in July, or sun-ripened tomatoes in August - yes, on a perfect BLT as Kathy says. Oh - and Peeps at Easter, of course!
Edith, I am jealous that you already have an asparagus crop. It will be quite a while before local asparagus is available in Ontario. Local strawberries in June/August too. I wish I could eat tomatoes but am now allergic. I used to love BLTs.
DeleteI saw your asparagus photos on Facebook and drooled, Edith!
DeleteThanks for the reminder about blueberries. You gave me the names of some varieties, and I think it's time to get some and get them planted. It's too late for the asparagus, I guess.
Now would be a perfect time to plant asparagus, Karen.
DeleteIf I could find some to plant! That's the problem.
DeleteBlueberries. I spent many an August picking blueberries.
DeleteEdith, doesn't asparagus have to have a couple of years to grow when you first plant it before you have a crop of it?
DeleteCongratulations for Pumpkin Spice Peril, Jenn !
ReplyDeleteI never tried pumpkin spice in a latte but I like it in my pies ( my grandmother's recipe) and in muffins. I'm certain
I will like them in your book too.
Spring and summer are my favourite seasons because of all the bounties that will appear in the farm markets. So looking forward to asparagus, then strawberries, them raspberries, then blueberries and corn cobs. I'm salivating just thinking of all the goodies we will be able to eat in the months to come.
Thank you! Pumpkin muffins are the best. I also make a pumpkin bread in a coffee can that is amazing!
DeleteDanielle, your talk of all the great fresh vegetables and fruits at the farmers' markets makes me feel better about the possible meat shortage.
DeleteCongratulations, Jenn! I do not know how you do it but I and the rest of the world (why not) are very happy that you do! I have never had any latte, pumpkin spice or not! hard to believe, huh? I remember when hazelnut coffee was a thing and I liked that well enough. But I'll save pumpkin spice for bread or maybe pie. Actually a sprinkle of it on homemade applesauce is not bad. Seasonal delicacies for me are local strawberries and I am so lucky to finally have blueberries on my own bushes!
ReplyDeleteI think hazelnut was the gateway flavor to the world of flavored coffee. At least, ! think it was the first one I ever tried. Yum.
DeleteA dozen cupcakes, Jenn! Perfect! I just watched a Christmas movie the other night, and I'm sure I'm not alone in having seasonal dysphoria right now!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Kathy Reel, what ever happened to the concept of "mind your own business"? Why does anyone else's opinion matter, anyway? For crying out loud, everyone is different, and why do we all need to fit in the same holes? Viva la difference!
PSL would not be my go-to choice. I'm a coffee purist--strong, hot, black as sin--unless it's the middle of the summer, when I do enjoy a nice refreshing iced coffee with real cream and a little bit of vanilla extract. One of my daughters will drink any godawful flavored and sugared mess masquerading as coffee, but one won't drink coffee in any form. I certainly don't think either of them deserves criticism for those choices.
Asparagus, garlic scapes, local tomatoes, garden peas, sweet corn. All of these are best in season, and I'm not interested in them any other time, for the most part. My husband used to buy rock-hard, flavorless tomatoes in winter until I finally convinced him that was a waste.
Oh yes, I forgot to add garlic scapes to my list. But since farmers markets are closed (would normally open May 1), I don't know how I will get my limited time spring faves this year.
DeleteWish I could send you some, Grace. I will have 180 scapes this year! That's way too many for the two of us to eat, even if I froze most of them.
DeleteWow, that is a lot of garlic scapes, Karen. Since I don't have a backyard, I have tried to get off the waitlist for a community garden plot here in Ottawa, but still no luck. Ontario yesterday announced that community gardens would be allowed to open. They were originally not considered an essential service in March, but now deemed as key for food security in the city. Still no word on farmers markets, or garden centres and nurseries being allowed open either.
DeleteSo my green thumb is limited to my salad greens and herb planters on my balcony. Still need a squirrel deterrent, though.
and garlic scapes are?
DeleteThank you, Karen! Yes. Hot house tomatoes are the worst.
DeleteCoralee, hardneck garlic sends up a long, skinny stem in the middle of its growing cycle. If it's allowed to stay on the plant the stem produces a bulblet at the top, which blooms into a flower, and eventually produces seeds. Cutting it off helps the plant direct its energy instead into making the bulb bigger and more robust.
DeleteThe scapes make these wild spirals, which is when most people cut them off. You'll see them at farmers markets looking like skinny green coils, about half the diameter of green onions, usually priced somewhere around a dime apiece.
How do you use your scapes, Karen?
DeleteKathy, I use them the same way I would use spring onions or green onions. Slice into salads, or saute and add to eggs, potatoes, or any dish that you'd use garlic in.
DeleteThe scapes have a slightly different, milder garlic flavor. I describe it as "green", because it's very fresh and bright in comparison to the garlic from cloves.
They freeze well, too, sliced into rounds or slanted pieces.
Jenn, congratulations on your book birthday! This book should arrive here by the end of the week.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can write during this crazy time, because your sweet stories are pulling many of us through it. And, I do believe that my mother's day gift will be the complete set of cupcake bakery books for Kindle. They do have a bundle, I checked. I bought all of the hat shop books for Kindle after I read the first one, Amazon made a bundle of the rest of them. I read them all in about 2 weeks. :-)
I, too, am a coffee purist, more or less. But please, don't burn the beans!! I wasn't always this way, dipping my toe into the flavors, but withdrawing it pretty quickly. I think that for most coffee drinkers, flavors aren't the thing anymore. So, is it just pumpkin spice?
In any case, I love pumpkin spice. My pumpkin pie, a Martha Stuart recipe from a dozen years ago or more, is yummy. My husband thought he didn't like pumpkin pie until I started baking them! One of the best pumpkin recipes I have is for pumpkin bread with chopped dates from a bon Appetit mag in the '80's. It is simply delicious.
As for seasonal food, yeah well, if it tastes good to me, seasons don't count. I look forward to picking berries in summer. We used to strawberry pick, but too much bending and squatting for old knees now. Fresh produce is best, no doubt. But, in winter, I will bake a blueberry pie because it is a surprise at that time of year.
So, yes for pumpkin spice, but not in coffee. Yes for book birthdays. And yes for more stories by creative writers who lift our spirits out of the earth. That's you, Jungle Reds!
I pick enough blueberries in August (no squatting or kneeling!) to freeze for the year, Judy. Blueberry muffins or pancakes in winter? Bring it!
DeleteThank you, Judy! I had no idea there was a bundle! And now I am eager to try pumpkin bread with dates - YUUUM!
DeleteI am not a PSL fan - but that's because I don't drink coffee. I don't like it in anything (chocolate, ice cream, no tiramisu, nada). But I'll take PS baked goods, or pie, or a candle, or PS chai latte.
ReplyDeleteI love a Shamrock Shake (missed them this year, drat). I like peppermint at Christmas. But if I had to pick one truly seasonal food I think it would be sweet corn in summer. Slathered with butter, salt, and a little fresh-cracked black pepper. Yummy.
Congrats on the new book, Jenn!
Corn on the cob in summer - yes, please!!! Recently, we've gotten into Mexican street corn (elote) - soooo good.
DeleteHappy book birthday, Jenn!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
DeleteCongratulations on your new release!
ReplyDeleteI drink New Orleans blend coffee made with freshly ground beans in a French Press. My world tilts when I can't get the beans. My New Orleans daughter drinks cold brew.
Apples and bananas are getting old; I'm ready for grapes, plums, apricots, and Michigan cherries and blueberries.
I love my French press! I'm going to have to seek out some NOLA coffee.
DeleteCommunity Coffee?
DeleteAsparagus is a winter crop here in California and it was in the farmers markets in February. I look forward to good tomatoes, which are coming in now from California and Mexico. . The first season of strawberries is March, and then more in June.
DeleteI don’t drink coffee and I’m not a pumpkin flavor fan, but I do eat pumpkin seeds. :)
I like that your title is released out of season,
hurray for a new book Jenn! I saw that mine dutifully downloaded this morning. I'm not a big PS fan, but we always enjoyed taking my mother-in-law to Dunkin' Donuts for her favorite fall treat--pumpkin cake donuts. they don't taste the same without her!
ReplyDeleteDunkin' has finally arrived in AZ! There was one tiny one and now there are a few more. Eases my New England homesickness.
DeleteCongratulations on the new book, Jenn!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, I am not at all fond of pumpkin spice. I'm not even wild about pumpkin pies, where it all began. I usually eat one small slice on Thanksgiving Day to keep the bakers happy, and that's it.
While I love a lot of seasonal produce -- local strawberries and tomatoes most of all -- the thing that popped into my mind when I read the question was peppermint latte. (Not peppermint mocha, though I have learned I have to stress that when I order or they default to the mocha.) Every year a little before Christmas I indulge in one peppermint latte, and I find it divine. And I am well satisfied for another year.
LOL - so long as you keep the bakers happy! Peppermint and Christmas are entwined for me, too. Yum.
DeleteI don't enjoy pumpkin spice anything. It turns me off because I think it smells disgusting. Plus I don't really care for anything pumpkin related.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the urge to dismiss it has nothing to do with the fact that women enjoy it. Rather it is that nasty and near vomit-inducing smell and because it seems to infect every product for no other reason than to jump on the bandwagon. I'm surprised there isn't pumpkin spice scented Ben Gay.
That said, my disdain for the product wouldn't stop me from reading the new book. So congratulations on that Jenn!
Dude, you made me laugh - out loud. Thank you for making the book the exception. My youngest Hooligan has the same reaction to pumpkin anything. But he is the Shamrock shake addicted one, so what does he know? :)
DeleteAre Shamrock shakes just green, or do they taste minty, or what?
DeleteYes, I want to know, too! Never even heard of a Shamrock Shake.
DeleteJenn, if there was a flavor or scent that I would consider my favorite, it would be spearmint. Wrigley Spearmint gum, spearmint Breath Savers, spearmint hard candies, spearmint leaves (those green jelly candy things). I'm sure there are other things too. I like cherry flavored stuff a lot too.
DeleteGigi, as far as I remember the Shamrock Shakes were just colored green. At least when they first came out originally. I never had one that I can recall because it is just vanilla ice cream with coloring. I'm a chocolate ice cream kind of guy. Of course, they might've added a minty flavor since then.
Deborah, you are likely not missing out on anything but not having had a Shamrock Shake.
You said what I was thinking about pumpkin spice but did not articulate. Good laugh before my next meeting. Shamrock shakes taste like a vanilla shake with green food coloring added, at least to my palate. They are offered by McD’s in March.
DeleteShamrock shakes are a minty vanilla and very, very green.
DeleteWhat a tasty, gorgeous array of books! Congratulations on them all, and esp Pumpkin Spice Peril (atop my TBR pile at this very moment), Jenn! Confession: I've never had anything but pumpkin pie (which I love) that was pumpkin-spiced. But seriously, if you like sweet, what's not to like?
ReplyDeleteIn fact, looking at my canned goods, there's a can of pumpkin and a can of evaporated milk... I'm inspired! Plus I have a little time on my hands.
LOL! Bake on, Hallie!
DeleteCongratulations on your milestone book birthday, Jenn! My copy should land on the porch sometime today.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a coffee drinker, but I do love pumpkin pie, and I'll bet pumpkin spice cupcakes are delicious. I like pumpkin spice candles, too.
Mmmmm . . . and I love cherries, peaches, and sweet corn in the summer, tart, crisp apples in the fall, and oranges at Christmas. I have enough eggs and butter just now. Maybe I'll make lemon pound cake and put strawberries on top. Or blueberries. It completely depends on what my grocery pickup service manages to get for me, and with those guys, all bets are off.
I hope your book is a great success. I will say that, with everything in the world topsy turvy, I'm enjoying reading that is funny and light more and more by the day.
Gigi, that's exactly how I feel as well. I want books that will cause one of the girls to ask, "What are you smiling about?" when they walk past my reading chair in the living room.
DeleteAlthough I did really enjoy your book, Julia, which I finished over the weekend. Not light reading, but so good!
DeleteJulia's books are the sweet spot between twisty mystery and characters that are fun (and funny) to be with.
DeleteCongratulations on your new book, Jenn!
ReplyDeleteMy dad, who grew up in Louisiana drinking coffee with chicory, would make us "coffee" with a lot of milk and sugar on Saturday mornings. We drank it while we watched cartoons and he read the paper. So coffee with flavors (and Splenda now) is how I like coffee best. I like pumpkin spice (latte, PSL cream pie, bread, muffins, etc.) and other flavors at Starbucks. Last year they came out with Gingerbread latte which was delicious. Both of those flavors say winter, Christmas, holidays to me, but I think I would drink either any time of year except when it is too hot, which is a good 6 months at least.
Mary, that reminds me of a drink I used to give my kids when they were small - milky tea. Half a cup of tea with an equal amount of warm milk, and enough sugar to make it sweet. it was a great treat because they got to have a "grownup" beverage.
DeleteAnd that reminds me of a drink Mom made for me and big brother when we were small. She called it cambric tea. Hot water, milk, and sugar in little tea cups a family friend gave us. We felt so sophisticated drinking that!
DeleteYes, we had milky tea, too! I still love it.
DeleteLove it. And the gingerbread is delish!!!
DeleteGigi, for our Easter dinner, I made a lemon poundcake with strawberries on top--good choice!
ReplyDeleteSo delicious! I'll be the rest of your Easter dinner was scrumptious, too.
DeletePerfection!!!
DeleteDear Jenn, BIG congratulations, how you turn out your funny touching stories with a houseful of guys makes each publication more a reason for celebration. But to the pumpkin spice story in my life. No, never drunk one, or eaten a PS cupcake. Early tasting opps of pumpkin pie put me right off it. I did make a pumpkin mousse one thanksgiving, when we were all contributing to the feast and that was good. So imagine my surprise on Googling PSM to find it's my old friends, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger. These spices plus mace are what goes into a Christmas Pud, or mince pies etc. I love to cook Middle Eastern lamb dishes with cinnamon and cardamom. I think it may be best to make ones PSM at home in small quantities so it stays fresh. Don't think I would trust the freshness of the packages in the supermarket. As for a seasonal veggie that I await each year - Asparagus. I do love that I can pick strawberries and blueberries in season here in Maine, but asparagus is the queen. We ate a bunch for dinner the other night, with fresh buttered bread and home made hollandaise sauce. Hadn't made sauce for a while either, clarified the butter and all. It was so worth it.
ReplyDeleteCelia, I was going to say I don't drink pumpkin spice lattes, nor am I a particular fan of pumpkin pie, but I love pumpkin bread and pumpkin muffins - mostly because they're just nice, moist delivery methods for a shot of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger.
DeleteA friend of mine is Swedish and she turned me onto cardamom - a seriously underrated spice!
DeleteJenn, just wait, in two weeks or a month (you know, when you've finished cupcake mystery #13), you can say you have a baker's dozen! ;-) Congrats on your book birthday!
ReplyDeleteI'm old enough to not have to read the rest of the article you quoted (although I will), to understand how women's likes, dislikes, thoughts, efforts, have been and still are dismissed as 'less than.' Let's just say, when I dismiss a book by a woman author, it's because the writing isn't good enough to capture my attention--it has nothing to do with the author's gender or the book's genre. The very idea reminds me of a character in a book by Dorothy Gilman, where a sarcastic man is revealed as the author of daring gothic tales featuring swashbuckling men and beautiful women. He cries in despair that he wrote them in revenge after his 'masterpiece' on the state of men's souls sold only 700 copies. A meek female character lets him have it--she loved his books and told him how much pleasure they brought her, especially in difficult times. And I say, a book that is fun to read is not to be dismissed, most especially now.
AS for pumpkin spice. Not a coffee drinker, but don't care for the smell except in pumpkin pie. Asparagus, strawberries, raspberries, peas, sweet corn, yum! Also look forward to melon ice cream (cantaloupe flavor) once a year, made by a local dairy for, what else, the Melon Festival in a nearby town.
Flora, your Dorothy Gilman character reminds me of the real-life Sir Arthur Sullivan, who thought the popular music he wrote for his operettas with WS Gilbert would not outlast his lifetime, and that his "serious" symphonies, etc. would be his legacy. I should add he was reproached by "serious" music critics in his lifetime who thought he was wasting his gifts on comic operas.
DeleteOne of the reasons I think 99% of the literary fiction of today will vanish, and my great-grandkids will be studying Stephen King in their college lit classes.
I have a whole list of writers the critics were wrong about, including Ben Jonson (so much better than that Shakespeare hack) and William Dean Howells (ironically, the Shakespeare of his age) who would be remembered long after Mark Twain and Charles Dickens were resigned to the dustbin.
DeleteRecently, there was a thriller writer bemoaning someone saying to him, "You write thrillers, but you seem so intelligent." He was quite offended. Every romance and cozy author was like "Dude, sit down." LOL!
DeleteI just reserved book 12, Jenn I know it will be great. When I read your remarks about women authors being devalued, I got a slow burn again. Back in the day when I was in the library biz that misogany was so rampant. Geez in the 21st Century it is still here?. dang.
ReplyDeleteI guess it was in 2014 that I posted on f/b "what next pumpkin spice kitty litter?" someone wanted to know where to buy it.
So for seasonal cherries from Mt. Rainier, sweet corn, fresh beefsteak tomatoes. I was shopping early (5 AM) at my farmer's market this morning. They had sweet corn, tomatoes and WATERMELON. Summer is now people... coming your way.
Wow, Coralee: Where are you? Because we're only barely into spring up here on the Canadian prairie, so our summer is a way off yet...But I'm dreaming of yours down wherever you are!
DeleteBTW, Coralee, your review is featured on Weird Sisters f/b page today.
DeleteAmanda, I'm with you. It's forties here in southern Maine, and we barely have forsythia showing. It's actually perfectly comfortable weather for anything pumpkin-flavored!
DeleteI had Mt Rainier cherries once when I was in OR. *swoon*
DeleteAll the things she named were at my farmers market last weekend. I’m in central California, southern Bay Area. The weather should be in the low eighties, but it’s been almost 200, since last week.
DeleteObviously near 100 degrees, not what I typed!
DeleteCongrats on your book birthday, Jenn. With the temperature here over 100 the last thing I want to think about drinking is pumpkin spice. ( confession I don’t like the flavor in the fall either) but it’s just the sort of book we need right now!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rhys! AN iced latte is what we need right now. SO hot!
DeleteJenn,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your book birthday! Happy book birthday! Do we need to start with the first Baking book or can we start with your new Pumpkin book?
Though I do LOVE Pumpkin Spice Latte, I did not know it was a women thing? I remember some of my women friends are NOT fans of PSL. On Bookstagram, there was a #psl (books) stack, reflecting the colors of pumpkin spice latte.
What are seasonal for me? If I could eat pumpkin bars all year, I would! Unfortunately, they are only available during Halloween season and Thanksgiving season. I love candy cane with the peppermint flavor. That is during Christmas season.
Happy to say they have Peppermint tea all year!
It's funny because there IS one thing that is seasonal for me. I know many people love gravy. NOT me. I never liked gravy. The ONLY time I love gravy is during Thanksgiving and I eat turkey with gravy.
For me, turkey gravy is seasonal, which is once a year during Thanksgiving!
Diana
Diana, that's so funny, because every year, I make turkey gravy, and everyone loves it, and we all say, "We need to have gravy with more stuff!" And then we never at it again until next Thanksgiving.
DeleteJulia,
Deletethat's quite a coincidence! I think it is nice to have something special to go with a holiday. Love turkey gravy and I think it's healthier for me to have it once a year.
Diana
So true. I never make a turkey and gravy except for Thanksgiving -- Why?
DeleteJenn, perhaps the answer is similar to mine? That turkey gravy is a once a year treat (Thanksgiving) ?
DeleteCongratulations on the new book! I have to admit I’m not a fan of anything pumpkin flavored, but oddly I look forward to pumpkin spice everything as a sign of fall, like going back to school and raking leaves. Come winter my two favorite seasonal drinks appear— Candy Cane Lane and Sleigh Ride Sugar Cookie teas.
ReplyDeleteI also love fresh fruit and vegetables, and am trying to figure out how the farmer’s market will work this year now that it’s finally warming up here in Michigan.
Cindy, hopefully, farmers markets will be smart about spacing, handling food, etc. I buy a community agriculture share (CSA) every spring, which is essentially pre-buying an entire season's worth of farmers market veggies. If you go a lot, it might be worthwhile to look into CSAs in you local area.
DeleteThanks for the reminder about CSA, Julia. I’ve never signed up before since I usually travel a lot in the summer, but this year I imagine I’ll be around.
DeleteToday is a beautiful spring day. Sitting outside on the porch in short sleeves for the first time this year has got me thinking about fresh produce—it no longer feels like a dream that will never come true.
I miss my farmer's markets. I'm almost out of honey and the store kind just...isn't.
DeleteFarmer’s markets never closed in California. If there is room they moved the vendors farther apart.0
DeleteA family friend starts a pumpkin pies spice countdown sometime in August. I used to make play dough with the pre-school kids, mixed red and yellow coloring and would add a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. I would use mint flavoring with red or green in December and lemon with yellow in Spring, all during seasonal changes. I like pumpkin pie in moderation during the fall and gingerbread in December. I start craving cranberry relish around November 1. Strawberries used to a summer crop so I would request Angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream for my June birthday. Cherries are still seasonal around here. I start looking around mid June so I can get my expensive fix in at least once a year. But pumpkin spice latte? Probably not going to happen, I like a mocha about twice a year.
ReplyDeleteLove your titles, Jenn, I need to meet this series. Love the cover art. I'm thinking they will be my birthday week splurge this year. Hope the launch is fabulous and your event this evening is well attended, virtually. I did read you are doing something with Poison Pen today, didn't I? If not, so for misdirecting the masses.
Deana, I can barely look at Jenn's cupcake cover art because I literally start salivating. We make cookies and pies and cake at home, but cupcakes and donuts are pastries I only ever buy, and oh, how I miss them in this season of being shut in!
DeleteYes, I'm actually heading out to the Pen in about 15 min! Ack!
DeleteCongratulations on the latest book, Jenn.
ReplyDeleteNot a Latte Girl of any flavour. And I do prefer my coffee coffee-flavoured. With 18% cream.
And like others above, I thrive on pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. In fact, I am the go-to pumpkin pie maker among all my friends, so I generally make 4-5 at once. It's my superpower.
Susan, I've always felt sad that I just don't LIKE coffee - there are so many flavors, and add-ins, and varieties. Meanwhile, I'm orange pekoe tea with sugar. Sigh.
DeleteJulia, I never liked coffee when I was growing up. My parents make percolator coffee, drank it black all day. Horrible stuff!! It wasn't until maybe ten years ago in London that I discovered I liked lattes--along with discovering that if I drank a latte instead of tea while out and about, I didn't have to search for a bathroom every five minutes! (This is a big issue in London where most stores do NOT have public bathrooms.) Anyway, espresso has a different taste than regular brewed coffee. I have since graduated to the occasional brewed coffee from a good coffee place, but only with milk!
Delete18% made me laugh out loud!!! I love it.
DeleteHappy pub day, Jenn, and congrats on your even dozen!!! My copy is on the way from Murder by the Book, so fingers crossed it comes soon!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a PSL fan, sorry to say, although I'm fine with those flavors in pies and breads and cupcakes. I just don't like any kind of flavored or sweetened coffee. Plain steamed milk is my go-to with espresso.
Favorite seasonal things? It's hard to think about anything but summer food now. Texas blueberries, real tomatoes, corn, Texas peaches!!! I hope I'll be able to go to the farmer's market by June!
Don’t forget the endangered Pecos cantaloupes.
DeletePeaches are my favorite fruit bar none. I went in mourning when our peach tree died.
DeleteNooooooooo, I really really do NOT like PSL. I mean--it's--well, to each her own.
ReplyDeleteFavorite seasonal things, hmm. Iced lattes! And I so agree about turkey, and gravy! Why don't we have that ALL the time?
TWELVE CUPCAKE MYSTERIES! SO fabulous!!!
Thank you, Hank!
DeleteI confess I never thought of pumpkin spice latte as primarily a women's drink. I just thought it was a Thing to be jeered at because it became ubiquitous--just short of PSL kitty litter.
ReplyDeleteI've never had a PSL latte but like it in baked goods. Pumpkin makes thing moist and the spices are all ones I adore. So pumpkin bread and muffins are faves. I like coffee flavored everything. I recall the first cup of coffee I ever had (age 6) and the first coffee ice cream too (age 8). I've been a fanatic ever since.
I wish peppermint wasn't a seasonal thing. I'd love to have peppermint ice cream year round. And egg nog. And egg nog ice cream.
Jenn, congratulations on your book birthday. Celebrating the twelfth one is marvelous. Brava for you.
Certain kinds of men make fun of female pursuits as a way of keeping women less than. It is a control tactic. And ugly. I recommend watching "Mrs. America" on FX on Hulu, guaranteed to get your dander up.
I'm afraid to watch Mrs. America. I'm afraid it will ignite my temper. One thing I have never understood is women who don't support other women. Argh. Hub has a cousin who said, "I think feminism is toxic for men. It displaces them." Oh, honey, girl child, I had to take a knee to recover from that shovelful of horse manure. Honestly, when will we just see each other as human beings?
DeleteCongrats Jenn on your book birthday. I look forward to reading what the gang is up to as well as the cupcake recipes that you will include.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
DeleteCongratulations!! I love all things pumpkin (except anything with coffee in it) and can't wait to read this!! xo
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to say that I have never -- no, that's not accurate. Rather, I CONFESS that I have never tried a pumpkin spice latte. However I do like pumpkin pie -- particularly, Pumpkin CHIFFON pie -- oh, yum.
ReplyDelete