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Beach Buzz: 5 Virginia Beach picks to get your pumpkin fix

  • Enjoy a bowl pumpkin tortilla soup from The Stockpot.

    Lee Belote/Freelance / The Virginian-Pilot

    Enjoy a bowl pumpkin tortilla soup from The Stockpot.

  • For a taste of something different try a pumpkin cinnamon...

    Lee Belote/Freelance / The Virginian-Pilot

    For a taste of something different try a pumpkin cinnamon roll from My Vegan Sweet Tooth.

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Did you notice that pumpkin season arrived in early September this year?

It’s kind of like Christmas. Each year, holiday merchandise blankets store shelves a tad earlier. I don’t welcome Christmas decor too early, but I admittedly love seeing pumpkin products in September.

By early October, you can find pumpkin-flavored doughnuts, lattes, cookies, oatmeal and many other novelties. The list grows larger every year.

Just last week, I spent an hour at Trader Joe’s browsing its selection of pumpkin waffles, pasta, breakfast bars and other treats.

If you’re like me and have a passion for pumpkin, then you must try these five pumpkin picks. Keep in mind these are seasonal items. Quantities are limited and available only for a short time.

Pumpkin Tortilla Soup, The Stockpot, 700 19th St. (also available at the Norfolk location)

Most of us associate pumpkin dishes with something sweet, but it can be a great sidekick when it’s added to a savory meal.

The Stockpot makes a flavorful fall soup with a tomato base and pureed pumpkin. Their vegan pumpkin tortilla soup is a tasty bowl full of carrots, onions, red bell pepper, chipotle, cilantro and fall spices topped with fried tortillas. The Mexican-inspired soup with a pumpkin twist is perfect for a cool fall day.

Pumpkin ice cream, Blue Cow Ice Cream Co., 2817 Shore Drive

If you close your eyes when eating this ice cream, you’ll think you had a piece of frozen pumpkin pie. It tastes just like homemade pumpkin pie, but it’s really cold and creamy and best served in a waffle cone.

The ice cream is handmade in small batches and uses 100% natural pumpkin puree. It has just enough spices to add depth to the flavor, but pumpkin is still the star of this ice cream cone.

For a taste of something different try a pumpkin cinnamon roll from My Vegan Sweet Tooth.
For a taste of something different try a pumpkin cinnamon roll from My Vegan Sweet Tooth.

Pumpkin cinnamon roll, My Vegan Sweet Tooth, 3916 Virginia Beach Blvd.

This is a pumpkin version of the classic cinnamon roll. Fresh pumpkin puree and spices are mixed into the dough. The hefty-sized roll is then smothered with cream cheese frosting and a cinnamon dusting. This vegan treat is egg-, nut- and dairy-free. It’s best served warm.

Pumpkin pecan fudge, Forbes Candies, several locations in Virginia Beach and Norfolk

Forbes Candies has been making small-batch, homemade fudge locally in Virginia Beach since 1930. The pumpkin fudge is a seasonal treat that’s loaded with fresh pecans and pumpkin flavor.

This would be a great hostess gift for a Halloween party or a wonderful dessert sliced into mini squares adorned with Halloween toothpicks.

Pumpkin cream cheese, The Bagel Baker, 1340 North Great Neck Road

Have you tried homemade pumpkin cream cheese smeared on a bagel? Bagel Baker whips cream cheese, pureed pumpkin and spices to create their version of pumpkin pie cheesecake on a bagel. I can’t think of a better breakfast treat.

Lee Belote, jlbelote@verizon.net