Pumpkin Spice with a Side of Ranch
My two oldest daughters have worked at the same restaurant off and on for about six years and often comment on how many times they get asked to bring an extra side of ranch dressing. I always feel their silent server scorn when I ask for extra ranch or, sometimes their scowls keep me from even asking. I don’t want to be “that person.”
But what if I like ranch dressing? I mean, what’s not to like about it? There’s got to be some reason it’s replaced all other dressings as the most popular.
I think this time of year we begin to feel the same way about ordering pumpkin spice anything. I saw the first sign of fall back in late August with a pumpkin spice baking mix display at the store and thought, please, not yet! It’s the same feeling we all have when we see Christmas decorations out before Halloween (which I just saw earlier this week).
Pumpkin Spice has become the Hallmark Channel of food - apparently lots of people love it, but no one wants to admit it. Hating on pumpkin spice is an autumn ritual, up there with corn mazes and fall festivals. It seems to be in our human nature to love something to death, to smother it with our affections until everyone else is resentful of its success.
