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Great Snacks for roasting and toasting!
Hey! Don't throw out the seeds when making Jack-O-Lanterns or cooking those fresh pumpkins guys because they make great snacks if you know how to cook them. They have a nutty flavor that adults and kids love. Purists will want only salt as a seasoning, but if you like lots of flavor, experiment and have fun with seasoning blends. You can use everything from honey to sweeten it up to cayenne pepper to heat it up. You can use powder seasoning like cajun, garlic or what have you. All work really well with roasted pumpkin seeds. It all depends on what your taste buds are calling for, for the day..
Pumpkin seeds (also called Pepita) are a popular snack that can be found hulled or semi-hulled at most grocery stores, however, roasting pumpkin seeds (usually scooped out of jack-o-lanterns) is a popular Halloween treat
Pumpkin seeds have many health benefits, some of which include a good source of protein, zinc and other vitamins. They are rich in fiber as well as vitamins B and E, and are even said to lower cholesterol. One gram of pumpkin seed protein contains as much tryptophan as a full glass of milk.
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Pumpkin Seed Recipes
1 1/2 cups pumpkin seeds
2 tsp. melted butter or oil (olive oil or vegetable oil work well)
salt to taste
Options To Taste:
garlic powder
cayenne pepper
seasoning salt
Cajun seasoning blend
Preheat oven to 300° F.
Toss pumpkin seeds in a bowl with the melted butter or oil and seasonings of your choice. Spread pumpkin seeds in a single layer on baking sheet. Bake for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown.
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Just pumpkin seeds
Tossed with olive oil and your favorite seasnings. Combine and roast at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes, stirring now and then.
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Kettle Seeds
1/4 cup sea salt
Seeds from one pumpkin, "de-gooed"
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp coarse salt
Preheat the oven to 400F.
Fill a large pot with water, add the sea salt and bring to a boil.
Add the pumpkin seeds and medium boil, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.
While seeds are boiling, spread olive oil on a cookie sheet.
Drain the seeds and pour onto the oiled sheet, tossing to evenly coat.
Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with salt, stir again to evenly coat.
Bake 10 minutes on the top rack of the oven.
Stir seeds, re-position the rack to the middle of the oven and return the seeds for a further 10 minutes.
Immediately pour onto a separate baking sheet or piece of foil to cool.
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Toasted Pumpkin Seeds with Sugar & Spice
1 cup raw pumpkin seeds, rinsed and dried
6 tablespoons white sugar, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Spread pumpkin seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until dry and toasted. Larger seeds may take longer.
In a large bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons of white sugar, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pumpkin seeds and sprinkle the remaining sugar over them. Stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar melts, about 45 seconds. Pour seeds into the bowl with the spiced sugar and stir until coated. Allow to cool before serving. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Try this with Sugar and Cinnamon too!
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Spice it up seeds
1 1/2 tablespoons margarine, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds
Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
Combine the margarine, salt, garlic salt, Worcestershire sauce and pumpkin seeds. Mix thoroughly and place in shallow baking dish.
Bake for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
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Salty Cinnamon Seeds
4 cups pumpkin seeds
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
egetable oil cooking spray
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Grease a cookie sheet and spread the seeds out in an even layer. Lightly sprinkle with salt and cinnamon.
Bake for about 5 minutes, then stir the seeds. Season with salt and cinnamon again. Continue baking, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes, or until seeds are toasted.
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Tasty Tips: Try sprinckling toasted pumpkin seeds over salads or soups.
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