Pumpkin Seeds

Halloween is a time of year that we associate with many things. Kids running around in costumes, jack-o-lanterns and candy of all kinds are part of the charm of the season. Pumpkin seeds also become more popular in late October, but they are actually available all year round.

Many families enjoy taking part in the practice of hollowing out a pumpkin and carving a spooky face into it. Kids especially enjoy putting their hands inside the pumpkin and pulling out the innards. It’s a shame to waste all of the goodness that lives inside the pumpkin and an industrious adult can make good use of it all.

Pumpkin pies are a fall favorite and it’s interesting that most people purchase already made pies when in fact they are easy to make from scratch. All of that pumpkin flesh that is removed just needs to be separated from the pumpkin seeds. The flesh is then cooked with a few other ingredients until it becomes the filling for the pie. If you make a homemade pumpkin pie you’ll taste how much richer it is and you’ll never again throw out the insides of the pumpkin.

The process of preparing the seeds isn’t complicated either. They’ll be a bit stringy and wet from the flesh, but you just need to soak them for a few moments. Many people soak the pumpkin seeds in salt to give them extra flavor. They need to be dried after this and then roasted.

If you think this is just too much work for you, you can certainly purchase a package that is already prepared for you. Most grocery stores carry pumpkin seeds in a variety of flavors including barbeque and ranch. You’ll find them in the candy or snack food aisle. Some of the corner convenience stores sell them next to the flavored sunflower seeds and nuts.

They really do make a great snack for anyone in the family. It’s important to explain to children that they need to bite or pull off the shells before eating them. Although the outer part of the seeds is edible, it’s very chewy and not terribly flavorful.

Potato chips, pretzels and popcorns are traditionally filled with preservatives and additives. They are also quite high in calories. That’s what makes homemade pumpkin seeds so appealing. They are delicious and you can completely control how much seasoning is added to them. This Halloween try to prepare your own and see how tasty they really are.