#I really want a pumpkin spice latte with frosted pumpkin donuts

[pokegalla]

Requested by @theneurodivergentdummy

Getting into Halloween spirit!!! (Imma nickname this boi Sugar. Just a heads up. Also Better Homes and Gardens is an actual magazine)

Horrortale Papyrus and his introverted S/o going to a Halloween party!

* Sugar was pretty excited that him and his bro were invited to their first ever Halloween party on the surface. Horror was the one who suggested to him to invite you as your plus one.

* Your boi was so excited that he made matching costumes for the two of you! (Frankenstein and his lover. Bro. Tell me that’s not the perfect costume for y’all-). He was thrilled that you agreed to come and he felt proud when you brighten up even more seeing the costumes.

* At the party you sorta just stood by the wall, not really interacting much unless it was a small hello or friendly chit chat. Thank goodness for having SUCH a sweet bone-friend. He sticks with you and keeps you entertained, making sure you’re ok, and getting you drinks and snacks. He understands that you’re more kept to yourself and wouldn’t mind just staying by your side.

* Soon the party was getting to be a little hectic (loud music and such) so Sugar grabbed your hand and suggested on going home. You couldn’t have agreed more.

* You end up having fun at home, giving out candy to the children coming by. Eventually the candy ran out and it was getting late. So you and Sugar snuggle up on the couch to watch scary movies until you both fell asleep.

* Horror came home and saw you two snuggled up. He smiles and just puts you two in more blankets. Adorable little beans in a blanket 🥰

Mini story time!!!

“Whew! All done,” You exclaimed while carrying the empty bowl, “Those kids seemed to really enjoy those treats! They look so happy munching on them.”

Sugar nodded eagerly, “I’m Glad! All Hallows’ Eve Is Such A Fun Human Tradition! And….I’m Happy To Have Spent This Day With You.”

You smile and sat next to him on the couch, “Too bad the day is over….”

“Whatever Do You Mean, Human? We Still Have Plenty Of Festivities To Participate In!” Sugar exclaimed.

“What do you mean,” You ask.

You both just came home from a party and all the trick or treaters should already be at home. What else is there to do? Sugar went into the kitchen and some noises were quickly followed. You stare curiously at the doorway until he comes out with a tray of assorted Halloween treats and two cups of pumpkin spice latte.

“We Can Watch Scary Movies And Enjoy Each Other’s Company While Enjoying Some Delicious Treats! I Researched About It On A ‘Better Homes And Gardens’ Manual,” He explained before blushing a bit, “The Ideas In The Book Made Me Excited And I Wanted To Show You That I Was Trying My Best To Learn More About Humans And Their Culture….”

You give him a peck at where his nose would be, “Thank you sweetie. That was very thoughtful of you. You did an amazing job.” The smile he gave you was so precious. You both enjoy the snacks and cuddle up while holding each other tightly.

“Bro I’m home,” Horror said coming in, “Where did you and (Y/n) head off….to….”

His voice trailed off as he noticed his brother and his S/o snuggling on the couch fast asleep. He smiled and simply grabbed even more blankets to cover you both up. Then he grabbed leftover snacks and went to his room. Can’t let those go to waste!

[pastelwitchling]

If you're still taking prompts. How about Michael and Alex go to a pumpkin patch/apple orchard? They spend the day picking out pumpkins, going on hayrides, looking through all the fall decorations, lots of schmoop, love, and snuggles. 🥰

@ashleymarie1684

***

              Michael was trying hard not to smile. Alex was trying even harder to hide his enthusiasm. Neither was succeeding.

              In Michael’s defense though, he couldn’t help himself. When he had suggested this morning that he and Alex visit a pumpkin patch, he’d meant it offhandedly, vaguely thinking that he and Alex might enjoy a morning out doing normal couple fall things, especially with Alex’s love of all things autumn and Halloween.

              He had not expected Alex’s eyes to light up, or a joyous smile to take over his face before he remembered that he was a veteran and veterans didn’t get excited about going to pumpkin patches. But it had been too late. Michael had seen Alex eager, and he’d made a vow to himself when he’d finally kissed Alex that night at the Wild Pony that if Alex was ever eager about anything, he would do whatever it took to give it to him.

              So what had started as a simple outing in Michael’s mind, just a way to get some fresh air, had turned into a whole, specially-planned day. Michael had packed a picnic basket to enjoy lunch in the small park nearby, he brought blankets to keep Alex warm in case his leg acted up, and freshly brewed between them now sat two paper cups of steaming pumpkin spice lattes. Michael thought it tasted like sugary crap, but Alex’s carefully maintained giddiness had slipped as soon as Michael had stepped outside Crashdown’s doors with the drinks, so Michael was going to swallow the hot pumpkin-flavored frosting with a smile on his face.

              Pulling up to the pumpkin patch, Michael saw with some relief that it was nearly empty except for an elderly couple here and there. He knew Alex hated noise and crowds, and screaming kids and parents arguing were not what he had in mind for Alex’s Perfect Day. His own heart soared at the thought, and his smile widened by instinct.

              “This is so cool,” Alex agreed as though he could read Michael’s thoughts and knew he was just as excited as he was.

              Nine times out of ten, Alex could read through the mess of Michael’s head better than anyone else could. Sometimes though, even he couldn’t expect the depths of Michael’s love for him. His own happiness was coming from nothing today but Alex’s joy. If Alex laughed, got excited, blushed, wanted to take pictures, picked out a freaking pumpkin for his pies or to carve and place alongside the other million autumn decorations he had up in their home, Michael would go to bed ecstatic.

              Still, he didn’t want Alex to take it as pressure to have a good time if it ended up being underwhelming, so he merely chuckled and nodded, sliding his hand between Alex’s shoulder blades.

              “Yeah, it is,” he said. “What do you want to do first?”

              “Oh,” Alex looked momentarily lost as his eyes roamed the ranch. Or at least, Michael thought he’d looked lost. Peering at him closer, however, revealed the look Michael had come to learn so well on his husband’s face.

              Alex was excited.

              Really excited.

              So excited, in fact, that he didn’t seem to know where to start. Whether to have their coffee peacefully on the benches beneath the apple trees, buy one of the fresh pumpkin spice donuts from one of the open vendors nearby, or stroll through the piles among piles among rows among rows of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes and colors, laid out in a glorious field meant only for someone with Alex’s kind of autumnal enthusiasm.

              “I don’t know,” he said with an almost dazed smile, still overwhelmed and too happy to care for once. “What do you think we should do?”

              Alex gripped Michael’s hand in his own, his other clinging to Michael’s arm as though afraid he’d float away and disappear among the pumpkins if he let go of his husband for a second. Michael didn’t even try fighting his need then, and tugged Alex in, kissing his temple.

              “Let’s take a walk around first,” he suggested. “The whole patch.”

              “Yeah?” Alex said, half-listening, his eyes so bright that Michael wanted to stop and count the stars inside them instead.

              “Yeah,” he said softly, then, “you really don’t need any more coffee right now.”

[lovemesomesurveys]

Do you believe life is fair? It’s not always fair, but we’re not promised that it will be. Have you ever made a fan account on Instagram? No. Have you ever bought a youtuber’s merch? Yes. Name three people you want to meet in Heaven. I’d love to see my grandma and grandpa again. Do you believe in Heaven and Hell? Yes.

If so, do you believe you are going to Heaven? I pray that I will. What was the best time of your life? Childhood. Do you feel loved or appreciated for who you are? I know I’m loved. I don’t feel there’s anything I should be appreciated for. What could be the theme song of your life? I don’t know. Don’t you hate being all alone? (if applicable) I like spending some time alone. Sometimes I’m completely alone, other times I’m alone in my room but my family is home. I also like spending time with my family. Now as for figuratively, I do feel I’m alone in a lot of ways.  Do you believe rich people are worth more than those who are poor? Wow wtf kind of question is this.  When was the last time you read the Bible? I finished my first read-through earlier this month.  Do you have any embarrassing health issues? Yes. What are you longing for? A life where I’m in better health, happy, and doing something productive.  Who do you wish you could talk to? I miss Ty. What was the name of the college you went to? Nah. Were your college years the best years of your life? No, but I wouldn’t say they were the worst. There were rough times, but what I’d consider my worst years came after. Who was your first roommate? I’ve never had one. Who lived across the hall from you your first year of college? I didn’t live on campus. What was your favorite food they served in the Dining Commons? Do you consider the lunch ladies your friends? Have you ever had a janitorial job? No. Have you ever worked in food service? No. What was your first job? I’ve never had one. What year did you graduate high school? 2008. What’s something of yours that is missing right now? I can’t think of a physical thing that I’m missing. If there is, I’m not aware of it. Do you lose or misplace things a lot? No. Have you ever had a nasty rumor spread about you? No. Has anyone ever tried to ruin your reputation? No. What is your favorite flavor of frosting? Vanilla buttercream. What is your favorite type of donut? Glazed or maple. What is the name of your favorite bakery? I just get stuff like that from the bakery section at the grocery store. What is your current favorite Starbucks drink? White chocolate mocha with soy or a caramel macchiato with soy. I’ve been waiting for them to come out with more fall drinks besides icky pumpkin spice, but they’ve been lagging. Previous years they had other options that I really liked, such as the toasted graham latte. Have you ever been to the very first Starbucks in Seattle? Nope. I’ve never even been to Seattle. Or Washington. When was the last time you wrote someone a letter? Uhhhh. Do you write mostly in cursive or in print? Print. Have you ever called a teacher “mom” by mistake? Yes, in 2nd grade. I was so embarrassed.  Do you like the color of your eyes? Meh. I wish I had blue or green eyes. What color are your eyes? Brown. What was the name of the street you grew up on (if you don’t live there now) Nah. What was the name of the first dorm you lived in? Like I said, I never lived on campus. What was the name of your first imaginary friend? I don’t remember having any imaginary friends per se, but my cousins and I would make up other people when we’d play house or school.  Does it still feel like summer where you live? It most definitely does and has since May. What is today’s date? September 28, 2019.  Who’s birthday is today? One of my cousins.  What do you usually get for your birthday? Clothes. Who’s birthday is coming up next? Another one of my cousins next month. What is the last thing that came in the mail for you from Amazon? Phone case. Do you have a Paypal account? Yes. Have you ever had a brand or company reach out to you on Instagram? No. What is the last thing you purchased from Etsy? Some bracelets. Do you sell on Etsy? Nope.  What is a childhood dream that hasn’t stuck with you? I wanted to be a teacher when I was a kid. What is something you want to change about your life? My health. What is one thing you are looking forward to coming up? The drive I’m tagging along for later on today to drop off my brother. He’s going to one of my favorite cites for the weekend. Have you decorated for fall yet? Just a little. I have stuff for my room I need to get out, but I haven’t done that yet. I’ve been majorly slacking. I still have my Christmas decorations from last Christmas lmao. They’d only be put away for a shot time now... I don’t know if I’ll ever get around to it honestly. Do you type fast? Yeah. What color was your bedroom growing up? White. Who was your first favorite cartoon character? I don’t recall my first favorite cartoon character. I know my first favorite character in general was Barney, though. I was obsessed. Who is your favorite Disney princess? I don’t really have a favorite one.  Do you enjoy typing? I mean, yeah. Definitely over handwriting.  What bank do you use? Nah. What grocery store do you shop at the most? Walmart. What is your favorite fast food place? BK, Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Chick-Fil-A, Jack in the Box. I haven’t been much into fast food for the past few months, though.  Do you get sauce on your pizza? Uh, yeah? Ew, why would you not get sauce on your pizza. That’s an absolute must. Extra sauce for me. Do you like hamburgers? Meh. Do you like Coca Cola? Yeah. Do you like McDonald’s french fries? Yeah. What color is your hair? Naturally it’s dark brown, but I dye it red. Did you get your hair color from your mom, your dad, or a grandparent? My mom. What is your name (first and middle)? My first name is Stephanie. That’s all ya need to know. What are some other names your parents’ considered when naming you? Andrea. What would you have been named if you had been born the opposite gender? Jesse, I think. Do you prefer tea hot or cold? Hot. What is the best fall drink? Coffee (hot). That’s my favorite all year round. Who was the last person you know who had a baby? One of my cousins. …And what was the baby’s name? He’s named after his dad (my cousin). If you had a boy and a girl, what would they be named? I’m not having kids. Do you clean your room often? I keep it clean, it just gets a little cluttered. I need to go through and get rid of some stuff. Who taught you how to drive? No one has, I don’t drive. What color is your dresser? Brown. Do you have a hope chest? No. Do you have a favorite aunt, and if so, who is it? I have an aunt I’m really close with. Who is your favorite cousin? I was really close to a couple of my cousins, but when I distanced myself and became very recluse and withdrawn these past few years, that included from them as well. :/  Do you look like your mom? Yeah. What does your middle name rhyme with? What does your first name mean? “To be crowned” or something like that. Have you bought next year’s calendar yet? Nah. I don’t use calendars except for the one on my phone. The only reason I had one last year was because I won it in a giveaway.  What year did/will you turn 30? I turned 30 this July. Have you found your first gray/white hair yet? I’ve found a few. D: Is your hair long or short? Long. …and which way do you like it best? I like it long. What’s a food that you like, but it makes you feel sick? I just have a messed up stomach and bad indigestion, so. Do you have a problem with needles? Yes. Have you ever had to use an epi pen? No. If so, do you get a bruise when you use it? Have you ever ridden in an ambulence? Yes. If applicable, what color are your glasses? Black. Do you like the name Addison? Sure. Is there anything that you regret getting rid of? Yeah. I have a hard time getting rid of stuff. What have you been saving up to buy for a while? I haven’t been saving up to buy anything, but I do want to start on my Christmas shopping next month. I should have started saving up for that. This month was especially bad for some reason in regards to my spending. Does anything bother you about your past? I have a lot of regrets. Do you get bullied on facebook a lot? No, I never have. Why do you think people bully others? There’s a lot of reasons. Have you ever stood up to a bully? I’ve never been bullied. I was/am  the only bully to myself. Do you post on youtube regularly, if you have a channel? I don’t post at all. Which famous person do you think you could be friends with? I don’t know. If you could sit down and talk to anyone for an hour, who would it be? I wish I could do that with my grandma who passed away over 10 years ago. Do you own striped tights? No. Have you ever made your own Halloween costume out of clothes from ur closet? Yes, a few times. Do you own any antique furniture? I personally don’t. What year were you born? 1989. What is your favorite alcoholic beverage? I don’t drink anymore. Do you set goals for yourself? I should. Which country has the coolest flag? I like the American flag. I like Sweden’s flag’s colors. Do you like your country’s flag? Yeah. Which country do you live in? USA. What is your heritage? I really want to do one of those DNA kits to know for sure. When was the last time you received a hug? A few days ago. Do you have anyone who hugs you regularly? Yeah. Who gives the best hugs? My mom. Would you rather have the bottom bunk or top bunk? I’d have to use the bottom bunk. Window seat or aisle seat? I’ve only flown a total of 2 times and both times I sat in the middle. Have you ever thrown up on an airplane? No. Have you ever seen anyone else throw up on an airplane? No. Have you ever gotten sick in the car? Yes. What color pen do you write with the most? Black. Do you still wear clothes from the children’s section? I could. What were your favorite stores when you were in high school? Hot Topic was one of them. For some reason I don’t remember where else I shopped at for clothes.  Do you watch Bethany Mota on youtube? Nah. What color is your watch? I don’t have one. What color was the last pair of flip-flops you wore? I don’t wear flip flops. What is your favorite season? Fall and winter. Were you born in your favorite season? No, I was born in the summer. Blech. Have you eaten oatmeal lately? No, it’s been several months since I’ve hat oatmeal. I was eating it pretty regularly the last couple years, though. If you have bangs, do you cut them yourself? I trimmed them myself back when I had bangs. What color was the last cup you drank out of? Red. Do you enjoy graphic designing? I don’t do any graphic designing.  Do you enjoy editing photos? I like adding filters, ha. I used to dabble with Photoshop sometimes and made photo edits and gifs. What is your favorite app on your phone? I use YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Spotify, Instagram, and Snapchat the most. Do you answer your phone every time it rings? Only if it’s my parents or brother. Have you ever called the wrong number? Yeah. Do you usually pick Truth or Dare? Truth. Was your first kiss magical? No, but it was all I knew at the time of course and I was pretty giddy about having had my first kiss, even though it was awkward af lol. Do you like kissing? Yes. Who do you want to be best friends with? My best friend is my mom and I’m perfectly happy with that. Do you like to decoupage things? I don’t do that. Do you have a printer? Yeah. How many tabs are open on your browser right now? 1 window, 5 tabs. Which Internet browser do you use? Chrome. Did you have a Myspace page back in the day? Yep. Do you miss Myspace bulletins? No. They were just posts like these are. Did you ever learn HTML? Just the very basics. Have you ever wanted to start a business? Nope.

[nebulous-frog]

Danuts Donut Shop

Summary: Phil kept visiting Danuts Donut Shop because the donuts were divine. Yeah, that was totally the reason. 

It had nothing to do with the very cute and very flirty pastel cashier who always seemed to be working, not at all.

Word count: 2101

Rating: G

Warnings: Some swearing

Genre: Extreme Fluff

Author’s Note: Written for Day 4 of @phanfichallenge​‘s week of fics and as my contribution to the Trope Challenge!

Now with ART!! Thank you to the fabulous @pasteldnp for this edit!!

Link to AO3 Fics Masterlist

Sugar. Phil needed sugar.

Not for baking, god knows he’d burn down the whole block if he tried that, but he needed to eat something sugary and he needed it now.

Phil had just moved to the area a few days ago, so he didn’t really know any good places to go for something sweet. He pulled out his phone and asked Siri for some help and decided on a place that sounded interesting: “Danuts Donut Shop”.

It was only a few minutes away from his flat, so Phil decided to walk. It was a nice day, anyway, not too hot or cold and not raining for once.

When Phil arrived, he opened the door to be smacked in the face with the mind-numbing scent of fresh-made donuts. He inhaled deeply through his nose, lingering in the doorway.

“Hi, welcome to Danuts Donut Shop! What can I get for you?” a chipper voice asked.

Phil jumped, having gotten caught up in the delicious smell, and walked fully into the store.

“Um, well, I was looking for some donuts.”

“And you came to a donut shop? Crazy,” the young man manning the front counter said teasingly.

“I-uh- um- yeah?” Phil stuttered. He was still a little off-balance and he was always awkward, so he was quickly deciding to never come back here again. He finally looked up at the counter to see the cashier, who was wearing an oversized pastel pink jumper and white skinny jeans with a pink flower crown delicately placed on top of an organized mop of curls. In that moment, Phil realized he was done for. This man was this amazing combination of adorable and flirty that had Phil absolutely swooning.

“So, what donut would you like?”

Phil stumbled towards the donut counter and perused the options. There were so many flavors and sizes that he was a little overwhelmed.

Maybe I’ll have to come back and try some more later, he thought. But which should I pick first? Classic glazed? Bear claw? Oooh, but pumpkin spice is always delicious…

He glanced back up at the cashier, and gave him a small smile.

“Pumpkin spice?”

The cashier bent over reached into the case to take out the donut.

“Alright. Just the one?” he asked as he stood up straight.

“Well, yeah, I guess?” Phil replied unsurely. He really only needed one, but the other donuts were really tempting and Phil could feel his willpower threatening to crumble.

“Not, maybe, a glazed? Jelly-filled?” the man drawled, staring intently at Phil and licking his lips. His eyes drifted over Phil’s awkwardly tall form. “Boston cream?”

Phil blushed and coughed a bit, breaking eye contact for a moment. “Um- no. Haha, just the pumpkin spice.” He tentatively looked back up at the cashier again.

“Sure thing, love,” the cashier replied with a wink and a smirk.

Unsure of how to respond, Phil just pretended he hadn’t heard, although he was sure he was blushing heavily by now. He pulled out his wallet as the pastel cashier put his pumpkin spice donut in a bag for him to take home.

As they exchanged money for donut, the man winked again. “Come back anytime, sugar.”

Phil spluttered, extremely flustered, and nodded. He quickly turned around and walked to the door, desperate to leave his own awkwardness behind with that extremely attractive cashi-

“Oof!” Phil exclaimed. He had walked directly into the doorframe. Run. Now. Escape. You’ll have time to be embarrassed later, Phil, r u n!

Sheepishly, Phil backed up and opened the door properly this time, with a background of the cashier’s laugh effectively pushing him out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~

For the next week, the donut shop (and its cute cashier) were all Phil could think of.

The pumpkin spice donut had been amazing, tasting like a food version of the pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks, and Phil wanted to try some of the other flavors to see if they could be anywhere near as good.

But Phil also was a little afraid of returning.

The cashier had been so cute and Phil had made an absolute fool of himself the first time he went for donuts. He couldn’t go back anytime soon because he was too ashamed.

But that donut had been so good.

Phil finally decided that the donut had been too delicious for him to stay away. Maybe if he went on a different day of the week than last time, the cashier from the other day wouldn’t be there.

Hopefully.

So Phil found himself walking into the donut shop again a week and a half after his first visit.

As soon as he walked in the door, he regretted his decision.

The cute cashier from the other day was working again, but he looked somehow even more adorable today.

His hair was somehow extra curly, held back from his face by a pin with a big lavender-tinted flower stuck to it. His jumper was also lavender and looked so soft and delicately fuzzy that Phil just wanted to rest his head on it like a pillow. The cashier wore light wash dungarees over the jumper with one strap hanging off his shoulder.

He also had a nametag on, which Phil had not noticed the first time he came in. “Cute Cashier” was apparently called Dan.

Wait. Maybe he owns the shop, if it’s “Danuts”. No wonder he’s here again.

Phil was lucky there was someone already at the counter, otherwise the cashier- Dan- would’ve seen Phil sending him the biggest heart-eyes of all time (he also might have been drooling slightly, but nobody else needed to know that).

He was just about to turn and run out of the shop when Dan spoke up.

“Welcome back, sugar! What can I get for you today?”

Damn, Phil thought. I missed my chance to run.

The other customer brushed past Phil and left the store as Phil trudged up to the counter, a nervous smile rising on his face.

“Um, hi again.”

Dan’s lips twitched up in a smirk. “Were you going to get a donut, or just keep staring at me?”

Phil blushed violently. “I- uh- donut?”

The other man laughed. Phil never wanted the sound to end.

“Which one would you like?” He leaned forward, elbows resting on the counter and chin in his hand.

Phil’s heart thumped heavily at the image.

It should be illegal for one man to look this cute and be this confident and be in control of such delicious pastries. It’s just unfair.

He looked into the case again.

The coconut one looks really good, but so does the chocolate sprinkles, and the powdered sugar, and the glazed… I can’t just get all of them, so which do I pick?

After about a minute of silence, the cute cashier spoke up again.

“Do you need some help deciding?”

Phil startled, having gotten so wrapped up in his internal donut discourse that he forgot he wasn’t alone.

He sheepishly made eye contact with the cashier, who had a glint of amusement in his eye.

“Uh, yeah. They all look so good that I’m not quite sure which one to try first.”

“Well,” Dan began, “they certainly are good. And that’s not just a shop owner’s bias, it is a fact that several critics have shared.

“My personal favorite is the double chocolate pistachio donut, but, if nuts aren’t your thing, the strawberry frosted with sprinkles is a close second.” As he spoke, he pointed at each donut in the case.

Phil pondered for a moment, then nodded. “Double chocolate pistachio sounds great.”

Dan grinned. ”Coming right up, sugar.”

He winked, then bent down to take the donut out of the case.

A few minutes later, Phil was leaving, dignity mostly intact.

When he got home and tried the donut, he moaned.

He has damn good taste. I need to go back.

Every day for the next week, Phil found an excuse to stop in at Danuts Donut Shop. Sometimes it was as a reward for completing a chore or making a phone call, once it was because he “forgot” he finished off his cereal and needed breakfast, and once was because he won Fortnite for the first time.

Really, all the excuses were complete bullshit. By day three, he wasn’t just returning for the donuts, he was also looking to talk to Dan.

Dan had really taken over Phil’s thoughts. Phil was always thinking about how amazing Dan looked with a flower in his hair, or in his oversized jumpers, or when he teased Phil. Dan always found a way to get Phil flustered, and Phil loved it. He never knew how to respond, but he couldn’t get enough of Dan’s flirty winks, cocky smiles, and sarcastic comments.

As the week progressed, Phil’s attraction to Dan developed into an obvious crush. Phil learned what times were the slowest for the donut shop and would spend as much time talking to Dan as he could handle before he inevitably felt too flustered to stay and Dan laughed him out of the store.

At the end of the week, Dan finally commented on Phil’s frequent visits.

Phil had just paid for his classic glazed donut when Dan leaned forward, resting his forearms across the counter.

He looked intently at Phil, his signature smirk on his face. “So, Phil. You’ve been in my shop every day this week, for one random reason or another. Would you care to tell me the real reasons?”

Phil’s eyes widened.

No, I would not care to tell you about my absolutely hopeless crush on you, thanks.

“I- I just really like donuts?” he squeaked. “All the excuses were just to cover up my sugar addiction.”

Dan blinked, smirk melting into a fond smile that had Phil struggling not to swoon.

“Of course. Your completely obvious sugar addiction.”

Dan shot Phil a smug expression that had Phil thinking that maybe he isn’t talking about sugar and maybe he knows I like him.

Phil decided it was best to simply shrug and remain silent, a weak smile on his face.

Dan rolled his eyes. The fond smile returned, and he stood up straight to grab Phil’s receipt and a pen. He scribbled something on it, then handed it to Phil.

“Since you’re really pretty terrible at this, here. Text me.”

Phil took the slip of paper and looked at it to see a phone number and Dan’s name. He looked back up at Dan and was shocked to see a faint blush coloring his cheeks.

He began to laugh lightly. “I am really terrible at this, aren’t I?”

Dan nodded. “Truly awful,” he said while trying to contain his smile. “But it’s okay, you make up for it with that cute blush when you’re flustered.”

Phil blushed, but he was beaming. Dan’s compliment gave him the confidence to give one of his own.

“I can’t help it when I’m talking to such an adorable donut shop owner,” Phil said. He delighted in the way Dan’s face lit up with his smile and a deeper blush.

Dan looked like he was about to say something, but he was interrupted by the sound of the bells tinkling on the door as someone entered.

“Welcome to Danuts Donut Shop!” he called to them.

The customer nodded a greeting and moved to look at the donuts.

Dan turned back to Phil for a moment. “I have to cut this conversation short, unfortunately, but maybe we can pick it back up over a coffee sometime?”

Phil grinned and nodded.

“Great,” Dan said. “You have my number now, so text me for details, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Phil replied, turning to leave the shop.

“Oh, and Phil?” Dan

Phil paused and turned back to see Dan’s smirk back on his face. Phil raised an eyebrow in question.

“I look forward to hearing more about how adorable you think I am, sugar.” Dan winked, and Phil felt his face heat up again.

He giggled a little, then quickly turned and walked towards the door, eager to leave so he could text Dan and replay the whole conversation over in his mind while eating his latest donut.

I have a date with the cute cashier, oh my go-

Just like the first time Phil had ever visited Danuts Donut Shop, he walked straight into the doorframe and bounced off with an “oof”.

And just like at the end of his first visit, Phil fled in embarrassment to the melodic tones of Dan’s cackling.

This time, however, Phil definitely would not be afraid to return.

[abiteofnat]

TIME TO GET APPLE SPICE(Y).... 

Because we only have a week left of October and if that isn’t the damn craziest thing I don’t know what is!!! Somehow this month has flown past in an orange-tinged glow, between making festive drinks for every. single. customer. and eating as many seasonal donuts as possible... it’s been good. I got to visit an apple orchard in Wisconsin, our family-favorite pumpkin patch + donut plant, and literally forget what it’s like to put on other clothes than Timberlands and a giant sweater because the chill has set in suddenly and permanently. My friend asked me to start up watching Christmas movies this week with her to which my first impulse was to scream and deny, deny, deny, we only have two months until Christmas... plus I haven’t had my annual viewing of “A Nightmare Before Christmas” so that’s on the agenda for every single night this week leading up to Halloween. Can you tell I’m a sucker for fall?!?!

The one thing I don’t loveee about these autumn months is that there’s an overwhelming assumption that because I am a (fake) blonde female who slaves over Instagram like it’s my religious literature of choice, I must adore pumpkin spice lattes. It’s like a joke everyone in society has formulated- the minute it’s October, should I even mention “I want coffee” someone will go “HAHA BET YOU MEAN A PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE YOU STARBUCKS CLOWN, YEAH IT’S YOUR SEASON YOU CAN COME OUT OF HIBERNATION YOU PUMPKIN SPICE SLAYER.” Which like, yeah, I’ll enjoy a sip or two, but the hot version tastes like melted pumpkin pie and it’s kinda gross. Heckle me all you want, you’re not going to get the satisfaction of me ordering a venti-nonfat-sugarfree-half-caf-pumpkin-spice-latte-with-extra-syrup-and-a-lack-of-dignity. Sorry. 

I thought for this post I would just do a list of fall-favorites to guide you through the last weekend of this holy month and into November, which I think is a highly underrated month and deserves way more loving. November means cozy, cold nights but not snow yet, hot chocolate, the anticipation of holiday decor popping up everywhere, and a hell of a lot of dranks once classes end for winter break. I’ve got four weeks on the clock until I am officially halfway through graduate school and I’ll be damned if I don’t celebrate during every family occasion when mom feels ~spicy~ and puts out the wine.

ANYWAY, GO ENJOY THIS FALL-TIME FUN. 

1. Sutter’s Ridge Family Farm 

This place is my garden of eden. I had never been apple picking until a couple weeks ago when my friend Sheila and I went to Madison, Wisconsin and decided to spend the Sunday morning of our trip finding some fresh-picked fruit, and after a LOT of searching orchards on Instagram for authentic photos of what to expect we found Sutter’s Ridge. And it did not disappoint, not even a little. The drive there alone is stunning as you have to take a lot of long back roads along fields of wheat and grass to get to the private drive that takes you up a hill to the parking area, which after you park and jump out of the car hits you with an overwhelming sense of nature’s beauty. The whole farm looks out over rolling hills and is very quiet and picturesque; of course once you enter the farm it’s a different story because there are kids screaming and adults screaming because the kids are screaming and you really just have to take it with a grain of salt. But the prices are low; $5 gets you admission to everything and you get a plastic bag to go into the dozen rows of apples to pick as many as you please, for about $1 a pound. What a freaking steal; in Chicago an apple costs like $6 and it’s moldy. Not really but you get the picture. 

The trees are absolutely bursting with apples, and there’s enough room for everyone and their literal mom to wander. You can also pet some horses, pick out pumpkins, and enjoy brats and baked goods such as raspberry bars and the pumpkin bars with cheesecake frosting, which blew me the fuck away. I shelled out a whole $2 for a giant hunk of pumpkin cake and oh my god, it was probably made  20 minutes before and so delicious. Definitely head out here if you’re looking for a fun day/ weekend trip! 

2. Didier Farms

I have an ongoing theory I was actually born from a pumpkin here in 1995, because this might be my favorite place in the world. Lincolnshire, IL doesn’t offer much but Didier Farms is the only redemption it needs. My family has been coming here for pumpkins and all things fall for as long as I can remember, and the year I was studying abroad in London and they went without me was one of the worst days of my life. I’m not being dramatic; there are only so many family traditions that really hold up and this is one of them that I’m intent on never letting pass us by. No matter how busy October is, you bet you ass we’re going to Didier Farms. 

There are one million great things about Didier, from the hundreds of pumpkins looking for a home to the corn on the cob that’s dripping with butter, but the apple cider donuts easily take the cake. These donuts are handmade and are soft, moist, packed with cinnamon and coated with a sugar dust that melts in your mouth and makes you absolutely powerless against them. Imagine your first love- you know that rush that fills your body, how you can feel your heartbeat in your neck and your toes, and you only stay alive for that next moment you can see them? That’s me and these donuts. (Pictured- sister and these donuts)

Go for the donuts, stay for the terrible carnival rides and the hot apple cider, leave never and build a home among the corn maze. 

3. Hopleaf Bar

You’re going to need a filling dinner once all these day-trips are over, so make it a plan to head to Hopleaf Bar in Andersonville because the beer is flowing and the food is fantastic. Not only is Andersonville the perfect section of the city to walk around in on a cool fall night, given all the stores, coffee shops, and inviting restaurants, but it’s also not incredibly busy so it has a relaxed dining vibe. Hopleaf begins as a bar when you walk in, picture a very typical Irish bar with regulars at the counter but cute moms in turtlenecks sitting at the tables, and if you head back it turns into a stone-walled fortress of food. The decor yells old-English castle and the food supports that heartily, with options like heavy sandwiches and a lot of fried goodness. However, there are also a lot of unique salad/ vegetable-based dishes which shocks me about this place, and the menu is surprisingly diverse for the inside looking so Game of Thrones. 

I got the grilled cheese that was on sourdough, with house-made cashew butter, fig jam & raclette cheese, and that came with mac & cheese AND potato chips that I subbed for onion rings. That is a real dinner I ate and I felt definitely not slender and light afterwards... but no regrets whatsoever. The mac & cheese was creamy and baked to be crisp on top, and the CBJ was crunchy on the outside but warm and gooey on the inside. The onion rings were more shoestring-like than I normally enjoy, but served with some sort of chipotle aioli I was digging it. Surprise surprise, I went with my foodie friend Erin, and we smashed everything on our plates while taking advantage of the 40-page beer list that ranges from $5- $150 pints of beer. That number is correct, they have some fancy as fuck ale there that I’m sure people order once they’ve had about 10 glasses of the $5 kind. This place was awesome, and be sure to get here wayyy in advance of your planned dining time because the wait stacks up fast!!! 

Those are my top 3 fall favorites right now, enjoy this weekend and let me know what else I need to check off my list! 

Until next time, Happy Eating!

-Natalie 

[daisycactus20-blog]

57 Vegan Pumpkin Recipes (Updated)

This is one of my favorite round-up posts.. all things pumpkin!

Vegan Pumpkin Recipes. From pumpkin cinnamon buns, pumpkin fritters, cozy soups, rice dishes, ice cream, donuts, quesadillas and multiple versions of vegan pumpkin pie - these are all my pumpkin-y recipes.

These recipe posts are both recent and vintage. Savory and sweet. A few that are super healthy - and plenty that are quite decadent and sweet. There is something for everyone on this list - so if you have a can of pumpkin sitting in your kitchen pantry, give this list a look and hopefully find some inspiration!

Last updated: 2018

My 57 Vegan Pumpkin Recipes

1. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Frosting

2. 5-Ingredient Pumpkin Pie (Cheesecake too!)

3. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Loaf

4. Peanut Butter Pumpkin Seed Chocolate Chip Cookies

5. Pumpkin Spice Latte with tips! - beverage + how-to Here is my PSL how-to. Plus video!

6. Soft Pumpkin Cookies with chocolate

7. Pumpkin Nog - beverage This festive nog uses the creamy flavor of pumpkin to make it extra special.

8. Pumpkin Ghost Donut Holes - dessert or breakfast These cute little ghosts are a delicious and fun way to celebrate pumpkin around the Halloween season. Pumpkin donut holes are coated in vanilla glaze.

9. Maple-Pumpkin Quesadilla - appetizer or entree These are so savory-sweet and amazing with pumpkin butter and white beans and a hint of maple. Crispy 'dilla tortillas to swaddle it all!

10. Pumpkin Cookies - dessert These fun frosted pumpkin cookies are fun to make with kids. You can frost them simply or decorate their faces into jack-o-lantern styles! Top with chopped pecans or whatever you'd like!

11. Jack-o-Pumpkin Breakfast Sandwich - breakfast Oh my goodness I LOVE this recipe. And even better, so does my husband! Warm vegan breakfast sausage combines with a hint of vegan cheese, homemade pumpkin butter, greens and some savory mushrooms. This is a breakfast bite to CRAVE!

12. Pumpkin Pie Tarts with Vanilla Glaze - breakfast pastry These homemade pastry bites are like the mini, toaster-tart-looking pumpkin pies. Warm pumpkin butter inside, flaky vegan crust on the outside. And these sweet morning treats are easier to make than you may think!

13. Pumpkin Kale 'Fried Rice' Bowl with Tofu - entree This one-bowl meal is a favorite fall dish of mine! It has it all. Cozy rice, protein-rich tofu cubes, kale and more.

14. Pumpkin Pudding in 5 Ingredients - healthy dessert If you have five minutes and five ingredients you can whip up this healthy treat bowl of pumpkin pudding - cinnamon speckled, creamy, packed with protein and super delish!

15. Pumpkin Spice Scones with vanilla bean frosting - breakfast These easy to make scones bake up with pumpkin pie flavors, vanilla bean on top! Warm and fluffy for a cozy morning. Pair with your fave latte, cocoa or tea.

16. "Run Amok!" Pumpkin Cookies - dessert These Halloween perfect cookies are like classic chocolate chip, only with a few added goodies and a pumpkin-infused spin. Watch Hocus Pocus and bake up these!

17. Pumpkin Waffles - breakfast These fluffy spice and maple pumpkin waffles are lovely for a fall or winter brunch. They are gluten free and have the welcoming aroma or citrus and cinnamon. Maple syrup on top.

18. Ginger Sage Butternut Pumpkin Soup - soup I love this soup on a chilly fall night when I am craving something ultra-cozy, calming, comfy and delicious. The recipe is simple and the flavors of sage and pumpkin are outstanding. This is a must-try for creamy soup fans.

19. Pumpkin Pecan Cinnamon Rolls with Ginger Glaze - sweet breakfast treat Hm, these amazing cinnamon rolls really need no introduction. Pumpkin. Cinnamon. Creamy ginger glaze. If you want a fall-infused pumpkin cinnamon roll - give this recipe a try!

20. Pumpkin Brownies - dessert These sturdy pumpkin brownies are rich in chocolate flavor and super satisfying. They bake up dense and amazing. Perfect for a fall chocolate craving.

21. Pumpkin Chai Oat Blueberry Muffins - muffin Blueberry muffins with a healthy, spiced, pumpkin-y, fall spin! Warm and fluffy. Pair with a steamy latte for a perfect fall morning.

22. Pumpkin Muffins - Cinnamon Frosted - muffins These fluffy, dense pumpkin muffins are simply wonderful! The pure smooth flavor of pumpkin shines through in each golden bite.

23. Roasted Cauliflower Pumpkin Swirl Dip - Appetizer This is another seasonal recipe that I CRAVE! The flavors of roasted cauliflower and rustic fall pumpkin combine in a swirled bowl of warm baked dip. Spread on warmed crusty bread, crackers - or eat by the spoonful! This stuff is amazing at fall gatherings.

24. Hubbard Pumpkin Pie - healthy dessert This recipe is truly for the pumpkin pie experts out there. Those who want to try a rustic, authentic, dense, creamy-velvet version of homemade pumpkin pie. This pie was really delicious and so healthy that it makes a great afternoon bite or even breakfast!

25. Toasty Pumpkin Chickpea Fritters - side dish or patty I LOVE these! Love them. Toasty little golden gems of pumpkin goodness. Crispy coated and very lightly pan-fried. You could bake them too. They are delicious on their own or use them as a burger patty. Savory with a hint of sweet.

26. Crispy Tofu Pumpkin Spread Sandwich - lunch sandwich This lovely hearty sandwich has a pumpkin-sweet potato spread on top. Crispy golden tofu too. A favorite combo of mine for a lunch or dinner sandwich.

27. Pumpkin Spice Orange Banana Bread Bars - bakery snack cake These fluffy bars combine pumpkin and banana bread - what is not to love?! Enjoy for breakfast or as a snack. Pair with a hot beverage for a cozy fall moment.

28. Pumpkin Pie - from scratch - dessert Homemade pumpkin pie from scratch with a homemade gingersnap crust. And yes, I even made the gingersnaps. This amazing pie is one of my favorites for special fall gatherings. (Or you can try my 4 and 5 ingredient tweaks to pumpkin pie below!)

29. Pumpkin Pie (in 4 ingredients) (in 5 ingredients) - dessert I was dying to really make the easiest pie recipes ever. And with these two recipes I think I succeeded! Both pies turn out delicious. And with only 4 or 5 ingredients you won't have to sweat much in the kitchen.

30. Golden Trio Soup - entree soup This golden trio soup has butternut squash, sweet potato and pumpkin - chipotle flavors - warm, creamy and spiced. Crispy tofu cubes on top.

31. Cheesecake Pumpkin Pie - dessert Cheesecake meets pumpkin pie in a rich and creamy swirled slice.

32. Pumpkin Pie Parfait - dessert or snack These easy parfaits have layers of pumpkin pudding, coconut whip and grahams. So good and such a crowd pleaser! Make ahead approved. Pumpkin pie bliss. No holiday required.

33. Hot Pumpkin Mug - beverage This is like the pumpkin version of hot cocoa. And it is kinda like a pumpkin spice latte, without the espresso and with more pumpkin! So creamy and delicious for fall!

34. Walnut Pumpkin Pie - This no-bake pie is so rich and creamy and loaded with healthy walnuts! I love this as my holiday pie. ps. You could bake this if you like a firmer pie!

35. Pumpkin Spice Loaf - breakfast or snack This fluffy cranberry pumpkin spice loaf pairs perfectly with tea. Sugar Plum Fairy Loaf for the holidays!

36. Orange Pumpkin Hummus. - appetizer or snack This is a yummy fall hummus infused with pumpkin and spice and citrus.

37. Maple Bliss Vegan Pumpkin Pie - dessert This is a maple sweetened pumpkin pie. So luxurious and dreamy!

38. Cinnamon Pumpkin Graham Cookies or Crackers - dessert These are cozy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies made using graham flour.

39. Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte - beverage Ditch Starbucks and make your pumpkin spice beverage in house - sip in your slippers :)

40. 2-Minute Pumpkin Pie Pudding. This super fast pudding has walnuts and pumpkin and pie spices galore. Sweet, creamy and perfect for a dessert or snack!

41. Pumpkin Pie Pillows Cookies - dessert or snack These little nuggets of yum are perfect with tea.

42. Sour-Cream Swirled Pumpkin Pie - dessert Another version of pie - with a creamy white swirl!

43. Oatmeal Pumpkin Bread - side or snack or breakfast This fluffy and hearty bread has goodness of pumpkin and oatmeal combined in one.

44. Two Pumpkin Muffins - one cream cheese topped - muffins Two pumpkin muffin recipes to try. One with a moist vegan cream cheese top.

45. Pumpkin Apple Harvest Rice - savory entree or side dish This cozy bowl of pumpkin rice with sweet crunchy apples and veggies is one of my favorite easy bowls to whip up for lunch or dinner. Pumpkin flavor in each savory, nutty bite.

46. Frosty Pumpkin Shake - dessert smoothie This cool, creamy shake is swirled with frosty flavors of creamy coconut and smooth spiced pumpkin. Eat it with a spoon!

47. Pumpkin Oat Chocolate Cookies - goodness-infused dessert These tender round gems are a new sweet fall treat of mine. Pumpkin combines with chocolate and rustic oats for a flavor that is naughty-meets-nice.

48. Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal - breakfast This unique pumpkin oatmeal uses pumpkin cream to drizzle over top and fold in the cereal to make creamy, rich oats. Spice and maple flavors.

49. Pumpkin Spice Cashew Cheese Dip - appetizer I created this recipe when I was on a cashew cheese kick a few years ago. And it is quite warm and cozy! It starts out with some soaked cashews and ends up with a warm-from-the-oven dip of pumpkin spice deliciousness. This dip can be served warm or chilled. Party-approved. Savory-meets-sweet.

50. Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Layer Cake - dessert This rich and fluffy dessert is pretty much food porn on a plate. It looks like a fluffy layer cake with melty, creamy vegan frosting - but it tastes like a pumpkin-infused cinnamon bun with swirls of cinnamon throughout. So decadent. So good. So splurge-worthy.

51. Pumpkin Pretzels - snack or breakfast or dessert These soft pretzels are filled with holiday flavor and appeal. They bake up fluffy and rich in cinnamon spice. They remind me of cinnamon rolls, only in a pumpkin-y pretzel form!

52. Pumpkin Loaf with Chocolate Chips! - snack or dessert This fluffy loaf is studded with melty chocolate chips.

53. Date-sweetened Pumpkin Loaf - breakfast or snack This is a super fluffy and yummy pumpkin loaf. Perfect with tea or a latte. Rich pumpkin color and flavor.

54. Pumpkin Ice Cream - dessert This summer meets fall recipe is incredibly luxurious and delicious. Creamy and rich with pumpkin pie flavor.

55. Pumpkin Risotto with sage and spices - entree This cozy entree or side dish is loaded with fall flavor. It can be served as fancy or casual as you want it! I love risotto tacos with white beans, skillet mushrooms and heat!

56. Crustless Pie with Pecan Streusel - healthy dessert This crust-free pumpkin pie is so good! You seriously won't miss the crust.

57. Pumpkin Brownies - dessert These are so good and perfect for pumpkin season! Pumpkin makes these brownies extra fudgy delicious.

Hope you can try one or a few of these cozy-delicious pumpkin recipes this fall :)

Source: http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2012/10/my-25-best-vegan-pumpkin-recipes.html

[ciaossu-imagines]

And, in characters I just selfishly picked because I love them, Verde is next on the list for this cute little meme here!

1: Milk, dark, or white chocolate?

Verde doesn’t actually really care for chocolate overly much, as he doesn’t really care for much that’s sweet. However, if he is going to indulge in chocolate, it’s almost always going to be dark chocolate and often will have chili peppers or something of that type added to it. 

2: What do they get on their pizza?

Verde’s a picky eater, especially when it comes to pizza. He prefers it to be mostly meat, extra sauce, extra cheese but with olives and onions added to it. 

3: How well do they handle alcohol?

Verde is a bad drunk. He was before becoming an Arcobaleno and he is even worse after becoming one. He was always a bit of a cheap drunk, along with being a mean one, but his baby body cannot process alcohol at all and he’s drunk within the space of a drink. 

4: What would be their ideal birthday cake?

No cake at all. Verde hates celebrating his birthday. He doesn’t see what’s the point of celebrating a day in the year that holds only the basest social significance. He doesn’t enjoy birthday parties or cake and doesn’t want either one, thank you very much.

5: Coffee or tea?

Verde prefers coffee, though too much caffeine after suppertime keeps him awake all night and he has to switch to decaf after supper. He drinks more coffee than anything else too, since he hates drinking water.

6: Burgers or hot dogs?

Verde would take a burger any day. He’s very ambivalent towards hot dogs. What even are they? Are they actually a food? What is in them?

7: How do they feel about vegetables?

Verde has no issues with vegetables. At least, no more so than he has towards other foods. He’s a picky eater and there’s a lot of vegetables he won’t eat but there’s some that he will. He likes onions, raw or cooked and peppers, always cooked. He enjoys carrots and celery though both have to be raw. 

8: What's their favorite kind of cookie?

Verde prefers less sweet cookies so he prefers digestives, arrowroot cookies or animal crackers. He especially likes animal crackers since he can cackle before he bites the heads off of the poor, defenseless (fake) animals, though he’s always annoyed by animal crackers since he always gets that old Shirley Temple song stuck in his head.

9: What's their favorite of the five tastes?

Of the five basic tastes, Verde prefers sour foods or savoury foods. Both are an equal tie. He likes lemon especially of the sour foods and will often suck on a lemon while working on something or will drink just hot water and lemon. He likes a lot of savory foods though, preferring to eat them more often than anything else.

10: What's their favorite fruit?

As said above, Verde really likes lemons. He’s also quite fond of kiwi’s but only if they’re peeled. He hates the fuzzy texture of the skin and can’t handle the feel of it in his mouth.

11: Do they prefer hot or cold food?

Verde would rather eat hot food than cold, though he’s really not too fond of either. He doesn’t want to burn his tongue but he’s easily susceptible to brain freeze. He prefers his food warm to room temperature.

12: Are they a big eater, or do they tend not to eat much?

Verde tends to eat like a bird. He’s so used to going without eating, since he tends to forget to eat whenever he’s working on a project. However, if he goes too long without eating, he becomes a big eater and will eat at least three to four portions of whatever’s sitting in front of him before he begins to feel full.

13: What's their favorite drink?

As said above, Verde drinks more coffee than anything else. He easily drinks at least ten to twelve large mugs of coffee a day, though many of those are decaf. He enjoys the taste and how easily changeable coffee is simply by adding this or that element to it. 

14: Ice cream or popsicles?

Verde prefers popsicles. They’re often healthier and less sweet than ice cream, which often has a lot of added sugar or added sweets into the ice cream. He especially likes just plain cherry popsicles.

15: Do they spell it "doughnut" or "donut"?

Verde spells it the logical way, the way it’s pronounced - dough-nut not do-nut.

16: How are they at cooking?

Verde can barely cook for himself. He can make food but it’s not going to be the tastiest food and honestly, is often something he can eat raw or something he can microwave. He’s really too busy to worry about cooking anything that takes more than a minute or two.

17: From best to worst, how would they rank the Starburst flavors (cherry, lemon, orange, and strawberry)?

From best to worst it would be lemon, orange, cherry, then strawberry though Verde hates Starburst. To him, they feel like nothing more than chemically flavored plastic in his mouth.

18: How do they feel about spicy food?

Honestly, Verde can take it or leave it. He does like spicy foods well enough and will eat some spicy foods with no complaints but it’s far from being his favourite thing to eat. 

19: Do they have any strange eating habits?

Verde hates black pepper and refuses to eat anything if it’s even been next to something with black pepper on it.

20: How do they take their steaks?

Cooked. As in all the way through, no pink, not burned but cooked. It frustrates him to no end how many people cannot seem to comprehend that and burn his steak to a crisp when he asks for it to be cooked. He just doesn’t believe in eating half-raw cow - that’s just a bacterial infection waiting to happen.

21: What do they get on a burger?

Verde doesn’t like mustard or cheese, so he normally asks for the burger to have mayo, onions, tomato and just the tiniest bit of ketchup on it. 

22: Do they watch cooking shows at all?

No. Verde wouldn’t ever think to watch a cooking show but then again, Verde watches very little television. He’s a bit of a workaholic and his spare time is normally spent sleeping, not watching television!

23: What's their favorite snack?

Nuts of any kind is something Verde does enjoy. He really likes walnuts but hates the tedious process of shelling them so he often just sticks with pre-shelled peanuts or raw almonds.

24: What's their favorite ice cream flavor?

If Verde absolutely had to eat ice cream, he sticks with a flavour most would think of as boring, just plain vanilla. It’s not too sweet, not too rich, just up his alley.

25: What's their favorite meal of the day?

Snacks are Verde’s favourite meal of the day. He prefers to snack throughout the day, about seven to eight very small snacks, instead of eating three square meals a day.

26: Pancakes or waffles?

Pancakes, really crisp on the outside but fluffy and soft on the inside, with baked beans on top of them is actually a favourite breakfast food for Verde.

27: What's a food they find particularly comforting?

Verde has a small hidden food stash of these really sour candies that he used to eat all the time when he was a child the first time called Warheads. He only eats one every couple weeks, sometimes even only once a month or less, but he keeps them around for when he needs a little something special.

28: Do they put marshmallows in their hot chocolate?

Verde doesn’t drink hot chocolate. He really doesn’t like it and would hate adding marshmallows to it even more, finding it cloyingly sweet.

29: If they were a food, what food would they be?

Verde would be coffee and biscuits, classic breakfast food staples - a little boring but easily changeable, a little bitter and plain but easily spruced up. 

30: What kind of foods do they hate?

Really, Verde’s never going to be much for sweets. He also really dislikes a lot of foods, like black pepper, tabasco sauce, flavoured crisps or chips, and a lot of synthetic foods that he’s not even sure qualifies as foods. 

31: Soup or salad?

Salad. Lettuce, radishes, carrots, onions, cucumbers, and maybe some crumpled up bacon or a sliced up egg for protein. That’s a pretty big meal for him though and something he’d eat quite rarely.

32: Cupcakes or muffins?

Verde doesn’t like cupcakes. The frosting on them is too sweet. However, he doesn’t mind carrot muffins or bran muffins. He can sometimes even be persuaded to eat fruit in his muffins, like blueberry or morning glory muffins.

33: Do they spend all year waiting for pumpkin spice lattes to come back?

No. Verde doesn’t get the big deal about pumpkin spiced anything really. They’re decent but it’s not like they’re the greatest thing in the world.

34: Do they eat food even after it's been dropped on the floor?

No. That’s very unhygienic and Verde could honestly probably tell you how many thousands of germs are on it, even if you follow the five second rule.

35: How do they feel about food touching other food on the plate?

It’s a touchy subject. If the food isn’t meant to be mixed together, such as it would need to be in a salad, then Verde doesn’t want it to touch. But sometimes it needs to, like oatmeal and berries or things along that vein.

36: What would they do if someone took a bite out of their food?

Verde would be pissed. That was his. Do not touch his things. Also, you’ve now rendered his food entirely inedible to anyone but yourself. It’s selfish and gross. He can’t eat that now. And he was likely hungry if he was actually bothering to eat.

37: What do they like on their toast?

Verde actually is an oddball who eats his bread either not toasted or his toast as warm bread, with nothing on it at all.

38: Do they prefer their noodles al dente, or do they like them softer?

Verde prefers softer noodles. He figures pasta shouldn’t still crunch. If it was meant to, people wouldn’t be cooking it but simply eating it out of the box as was.

39: How do they feel about bacon's explosive popularity?

Verde is confused. Bacon is fine as an occasional treat but he couldn’t imagine having it more than that - it’s hard to cook properly, greasy as anything, fatty and really bad for you.

40: What's their favorite kind of candy?

Verde doesn’t eat much candy but he does prefer sour candies. He likes Warheads and lemon drops and sometimes he will eat Sour Patch Kids or sour gummies, though that’s very rare.

41: Do they eat everything they make, or do they tend to save leftovers?

Verde eats until he’s full and nothing more. If there’s food left over, he just throws it out. He doesn’t like left-overs. He forgets about them and then ends up throwing them out anyway. He’s not starving or poor and doesn’t see the issue with wasting the little bit of food he does waste.

42: Do they chew gum at all?

Verde used to chew gum all the time before he became an Arcobaleno. However, with his baby body he can no longer comfortably chew gum, a habit he sorely misses. He sometimes substitutes the minty taste of his former gum with breath spray or by chewing on those tiny disposable toothbrushes but it’s never the same, not by a long shot.

43: Have they ever eaten something that wasn't edible?

No. Not that he remembers anyway. He might have taken a bite out of wax fruit once while very drunk.

44: How much cheese-in-a-can would they put on a cracker?

Cheese in a can is not food and Verde would not eat it. That is crap, artery clogging crap and he scoffs at it.

45: When it comes to Oreos, do they prefer the cookie or the cream? 

It has to be both. Verde is the type to leave the cookie intact, dip it into the milk for just the right amount of time and then bite it in half without ever separating the cookie from the cream.

[inspectorgorgeous]

Raising the Bar…with cheesecake swirls!

There are more than a few pumpkin recipes in my past and unlike my dating history, I am proud of each and every one. All of them low carb, and none have ever disappointed when I needed my fall fix.

How’s that for a double duty dessert?

The Bold & the Beautiful & the Gourd-geous

As far as indulging our fall food desires go, we have our keto pumpkin spiced lattes and beloved gluten free pumpkin donuts that pair so perfectly with crisp mornings and coffee, but what about pumpkin cakes? Sure, you can google “pumpk” and before you finish your thought, you’ve got 5 pages of pumpkin cakes frosted in cream cheese icing, but what about a cake with some cream cheese INSIDE as well? I hate to tell you, but the market is sparse ladies and gents. We must bake the cake and stuff it with cheesecake ourselves.

Greek Yogurt. AGAIN.

So what’s in this magical keto dream cake made of pumpkin and not made of gluten? A lot of cream cheese, but don’t be deceived. It’s still pumpkin-spicy enough to fulfill your October quota. Tons of flavor is packed into a dense little cake bar and swirled around with a mixture of cream cheese and greek yogurt. It’s a little naughty, a little nice and worth every bite. Oh, did I mention you can spread and/or drizzle it with more spiced cream cheese icing?

Because you can and you must. 

Swirly Cheesecake Pumpkin Bars 🍂☕ with Spiced Cream Cheese Icing {Low Carb & GF}

Two desserts become one, and then we put icing on it. God Bless October.

This cake seems intimidating, using two bowls and all, but if you can bake a cake and you can bake a cheesecake, you’ve got it.

It’s all just swirls from there on out. 

Post baking, let it cool slightly. Cheesecake is a delicate thing, not one to be rough with. Proceed with caution until set, and then you can let loose. 

Now, it’s every person’s choice if they want to frost their bars or not.  I won’t tell you how to handle your deserts, that’s not who I am. 

What I will tell you is that these bars are both creamy and delicious without frosting, and double delicious and shamelessly decadent with icing. If that helps. 

A Note On Icing: I love thick and lush cream cheese frosting, and this recipe can get you lush. I also love drizzled, warm icing to soak into my treats. You can have that, too. The consistency is all in the amount of milk you use. Just keep adding and mixing until you are satisfied!

Swirly Cheesecake Pumpkin Bars with Spiced Cream Cheese Icing {Low Carb & GF}

Recipe Type: Low Carb Desserts

Author: Inspector Gorgeous

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 45 mins

Serves: 16 bars

Low carb spongy pumpkin cake becomes one with cheesecake swirls in this fall romance for your tastebuds.

Ingredients

For the Cheesecake Swirl

4 oz Cream Cheese, softened

1/4 cup Greek Yogurt

1 Egg

1/4 cup Granulated Swerve (or sweetener of choice)

For the Pumpkin Cake

3 Eggs

1/2 cup Granulated Swerve

1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree

1 tbsp Oil

1 1/4 cup Almond Flour

2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice, 1 tsp if you prefer lighter flavor

1/2 tsp Xanthan Gum, for texture

1/4 tsp Baking Powder

For the Spiced Cream Cheese Icing

4 oz Cream Cheese

1/2 cup Powdered Sugar (Swerve or similar brand for Low Carb)

1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon

Milk of Choice-to thin to your liking

Instructions

For the Cheesecake Swirl

Beat cream cheese, egg, and sweetener until smooth and let rest.

For the Pumpkin Sponge Cake

Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the eggs and sweetener on high speed until thick and frothy, about five minutes total. This is REALLY important for texture!

Stir the pumpkin puree and oil into the beaten eggs.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the almond flour, spice, baking powder and xanthan gum.

Mix the dry into the wet until smooth.

Pour the cake mix into a parchment-lined square pan and tap to allow the batter to spread.

Scoop 1/4 cup portions of the cream cheese filling into the pan, then swirl with a knife.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until the edges are set. Cool completely before cutting.

For the Spiced Cream Cheese Icing

Mix all icing ingredients together, adding milk to thin it to desired consistency.

Spread or drizzle the icing on the bars and top with optional pecans!

Serving size: 1 Calories: 130 Fat: 11 Carbohydrates: 4 Sugar: 1 Fiber: 1 Protein: 5

Notes

SERVING SIZE includes 1 tbsp Icing made thin enough to drizzle, about 1.5 tbsp Milk.

3.5.3251

  Swirly Cheesecake Pumpkin Bars 🍂☕ with Spiced Cream Cheese Icing {Low Carb & GF} Raising the Bar...with cheesecake swirls! There are more than a few pumpkin recipes in my past and unlike my dating history, I am proud of each and every one.

[michschamis]

Losing the light. by Michelle Schamis Via Flickr: Are you sitting on a park bench somewhere sipping a hot pumpkin latte? Eating an apple cider donut? All while wearing your warm boots.. Oh yes …fall is really here. If you went by the marketing of what September 26th should feel like rather then what it is, the your public display would ahem get some looks. Today, the temp is currently in the 90s..with humidity. Pumpkins are everywhere and everything is flavored with spice. Close your eyes as you enter any grocery store and you are inundated with pine cones that smell like cinnamon,nutmeg, and brown sugar.. You better like it til October 30th.. Weather has a way of doing what it wants and doesn’t square with what the farmer’s almanac always says.. We do have deciduous trees and we are losing the light of the day. One thing is sure, leaves are dropping and turning their display of brightness into one last gasp before they fall. Last week the sunlight was equal to the daylight.. Days are getting shorter and eventually we will have our first frost. The growing season has now become harvest season. I’ve let my sunflowers which were bright and upright slowly angle their necks down towards the ground and get pecked at from hungry birds looking for their seeds. The yard is a mess but still alive. Tired but bountiful and feeding hummingbirds, bees, and monarch butterflies. I don’t dare keep a clean house outside. Mother nature will come together eventually and the garden will be covered in quiet ..cold white drifts of snow. I’ll eventually wear my warm boots and get a latte. Even collect the pine cones but I’ll skip the artificial cinnamon smell. No need to control whats outside these days. Winter will slumber in and most likely the stores will be selling bathing suits instead of blankets.. One can only hope by that time it will get warm again.