I adore pumpkin. It's orange (my favorite color), healthful (fiber! Vitamin A!), and associated with two lovely, food-centric holidays (Halloween and Thanksgiving). Starting around October, I always find myself on the hunt for pumpkin-flavored foods, and this autumn is no exception. So, between now and Turkey Day, I will be counting down 10 Pumpkin Dishes to Try in Houston.

#10: Pumpkin Cheesecake Balls at Chocolat Du Monde

I was so distracted by the bevy of adorable Halloween candies and decorations at Chocolat Du Monde that I almost didn't see the large jar of Pumpkin Cheesecake Balls that sat alongside other equally large glass containers of assorted bonbons and cordials.

The Pumpkin Cheesecake Balls ($12/pound) initially appear to be somewhat akin to Milk Duds, though I hardly suggest chugging them by the handful at the movies. Small in size but not in flavor, these candies pack a wonderfully vivid pumpkin-caramel-cream flavor into each humble little sphere. The outer shell breaks pleasantly when chewed, but if you choose to let the balls melt in your mouth, you'll be rewarded with an additional taste of squash and caramelized sugar.

Friendly clerk Adam informed me that Chocolate Du Monde would also be vending pumpkin fudge in few weeks' time, so a second visit, and perhaps a double entry on this list, may be in order.