First of all, I have to clarify that I used to adore pumpkin spice flavored things until I developed a cinnamon allergy about two years ago. With that being said, I still think that pumpkin spice is overrated. Being completely cut off from it has broadened my fall flavor horizons. Consider it like Plato's Allegory of the Cave. My entire life, I had known nothing more about fall flavors than pumpkin spice everything, and it doesn't actually have pumpkin in it! I was blinded by a false mixture of allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg wrapped in gaudy orange packaging. It wasn't until that first time I got hives in my mouth from peach cobbler, that I became the escaped prisoner from the Allegory of the Cave. I realized pumpkin spice was all spice and no pumpkin and that there were better flavors to be tasted.

My first flavor revelation is a seasonal southern favorite: pecan pie. If you hate pecan pie, then I don't think you've had a homemade, hot out of the oven pecan pie made with fresh pecans. Pecans by themselves are the underrated treasure of the fall. You can make salt roasted pecans, sugar glazed pecan, or just roast them plain if you're feeling healthy. And everyone can go for some butter pecan ice cream (MSU makes some stellar butter pecan). Pecan pie should be the next Starbucks secret menu frappucino.

Speaking of underrated treasures, let's talk about the red-headed stepchild of fruits. No one appreciates cranberries until they have a UTI and that's just because of an old wives tale. Cranberries are a healthy, perfectly tart package of yum! Cranberry Ambrosia salad, cranberry sauce, and cranberry-orange bread...um sounds delicious! Have you ditched your pumpkin spice latte yet?

Finally, there's my love and adoration for s'mores with a guest appearance from salted caramel. S'mores are typically associated with summer because that's when all the camping happens, but sitting in front of a fire during the heat of summer doesn't sound peachy keen to me. So, once fall starts cooling the night's dow, break out the chocolate, graham crackers, and s'mores. You don't even have to be at a bonfire to make an s'mores sweet. There are plenty of s'mores type desserts that don't go near a fire and that's where our buddy salted caramel comes in. Salted caramel drizzled, s'mores desserts are to die for. Plus, both of those flavors already exist at Starbucks (feel free to find a way to combine them).

So, fall flavor novices now is as good of a time as any to begin your own culinary exploration. Challenge yourself! Exclude cinnamon from your diet or some other ingredient that's snuck into everything. Don't be basic, find something outside of the norm and don't be shy to explore some secret menus or surf Pinterest for an unhealthy amount of time. It's all part of being a fall foodie. Escape the Allegory of the Cave and find your personalized flavor reality.