#17. Kroger Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese

To celebrate the end of the work week, I decided to assemble a cheese plate for me and my inamorato. The Murray's cheese counter at Kroger is a great place to pick up discounted fancy cheeses; several times, I have scored a whole mini-wheel of Epoisses for just $5. 

Having picked out several of my favorite runny, stinky cheeses, I realized the plate would need some more mild cheeses for balance. An adjacent display of this pumpkin cream cheese caught my eye and I considered the delicious vulgarity of pairing some gourmet selections with a potentially gutter store brand "cheese spread." 

Well, lo and behold the pumpkin spice cream cheese stole the show. Its smooth texture, not-too-sweet squash flavor provided a welcome contrast to the pungent cheeses on the plate but even more exciting was the effect it produced when paired with a cracker.  A schmear of cream cheese atop a Town House rectangle gave rise to a layered sweet pumpkin-salty carbohydrate taste experience reminiscent of eating a slice of pumpkin pie. 

I can't wait to eat this stuff with a well-toasted sesame bagel.