….Roast up those Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds, now what? What ever does one do with all the seeds you clean out of the pumpkin as you prepare to carve your Jack-o-Lantern? Don’t throw them away. Have you ever roasted them to eat as a snack? It’s easy to do; and a fun activity to do with the kids.
Wash your seeds that are removed from your Jack-o-lantern. Placing the in a colander helps. Separate the “pumpkin guts” from the seeds, keeping only the seeds. In the colander, it’s easy to shake dry. Note: using a paper towel to dry them can produce seeds sticking to the paper and creates a mess. Simply shake.
Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Spread seeds on a buttered or oiled cookie sheet. Toast/roast in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes or until golden. When roasted, remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with salt. Li’l Al’s mom prefers Rock Salt. Eat when cool enough to touch. If you’ve never had roasted pumpkin seeds before, they are similar to roasted sunflower seeds, but you don’t have to crack open any shells (less messy).
Celebrating National Pumpkin Seed day could become a family activity. Use this as a window to discuss with your children uses for seeds – what other seeds do we eat? Sunflower seeds, popcorn, sesame seeds are just a few. What do they taste like? Why do we eat seeds? Did you know pumpkin seeds are rich in protein and magnesium? So, you don’t just have to throw away all the insides of your Jack-o-Lantern. Good eats can come from it all!