Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Today (Tuesday) was Pumpkin Patch Day for my son's kindergarten field trip. This was a BIG DEAL and he has been excited for weeks. I went along as well and got 3 smallish sugar pumpkins so I can make some pies in a few weeks. I will crack one of them open tonight and scrape the seeds to roast tomorrow I am planning to make them pretty as a treat for my new dad* as he is diabetic and I always make him something way to naughty and I am "trying" to be a good daughter. My mother is also always trying to find healthy snacks so I hope they like this!



Roasted Pumpkin Seeds





Remove seeds from your pumpkin with a sturdy spoon. Rinse off any pulp from the inside of the pumpkin. It may be easier to use a colander to rinse the pulp from the seeds so that the water can drain into the sink.



Soak the seeds in lightly salted water for 2 hours



Pat the seeds dry with a paper towel. Heat the oven to 250 degrees F.




Saute the 2 cups of pumpkin seeds in a skillet or a large pan. Stir them with 2 tbs. of butter, or 1 1/2 tbs. of olive or peanut oil. Add 1 tsp. of salt into the mixture. Continue to stir the seeds, butter or oil and salt for 3 minutes.


Place your pumpkin seeds on a cookie sheet. Spread the seeds out in one layer so that they can roast evenly.


Roast the pumpkin seeds in the oven for 30 minutes. Bake them for another 15 minutes if necessary, or until they are golden brown. Cool the pumpkin seeds on a paper towel or on a rack before eating them.



While still warm you can season with paprika or added salt or whatever sounds good to you. You can wait until the seeds are cool if you prefer.



Put them in a pretty jar and you have a pretty, cheap and delioucious gift!





*New Dad has been married to my mom for 12 yrs I like him more then the word stepfather as it sounds kinda cinderellie but I can't call him Dad as I had a dad and I liked him a lot but sometimes when we talk I call him just dad cause I like the new dad too.<3