This morning was officially the best Monday morning of all Monday mornings. No, not because I won the lottery (I didn't) -- but because I walked to my local coffee shop to grab my regular, and WELL HEY THERE -- pumpkin was back. Sigh. Hi, beautiful -- it's been way, way too long.

Yeah it may seem a little early for the spicy flavor's big arrival, but for fall enthusiasts like me, pumpkin returning to the menu at cafes and restaurants everywhere is just the tip of the exciting seasonal iceberg. Trust me, after your first taste of pumpkin for the season, you'll feel warm inside. The seasonal spice makes you instantaneously crave leaf piles, comfy sweaters, warm pashmina scarves, and holy hell, I should be wearing boots like ... 25 minutes ago.

As part of my ode to all things pumpkintastic, let's celebrate with a look at 5 great pumpkin recipes to get the fall season started:

What's your favorite fall treat? Are you a pumpkin fan?

Image via Emily Abbate