Pumpkin Seeds

   Yesterday evening my boyfriend, Ben, (I'm sure you'll hear of him in the future) and I decided it was about time we carved our pumpkins! Seeing that we purchased them from Avila Barn over a week ago. I fell in love with a gorgeous deep orange and green pumpkin plus a round plump white one, while he purchased a much larger classic orange fellow. I wish I knew the names for all of these unique squash. Pumpkins are just so gosh darn gorgeous and simply adorable! So I did my best attempt to stencil an owl from one of Martha Stewart's cut-outs. ( I know, Martha... buuut i really liked the owl!) My attempt was a slight failure. The pumpkin had too many notches to make a clear picture and the cut-out paper kept ripping because of my pumpkin slime induced hands.  But Ben's pumpkin turned out well, since he decided to stencil his very own face on it... He's a goober. I know, buuut he's my goober at that.
     I really was planning on making tooons of pumpkin goodies this last month, but school has been completely over loading with homework and when I'm not doing homework I'm working or sleeping. My mom has always told me that school is like a second job sometimes and I hadn't believed her until now... That was my mistake... But tonight I forced in some necessary free time and my parents barbequed some delicious corn for me. I swear i could live off of corn for the rest of my life, as long as it is roasted and topped with some good o'le earth balance, chili powder, paprika, oregano and salt... mmmm i'm in heaven with that! After watching half of the first Futurama movies we decided to get started on some pumpkin seeds! This is what we came up with!

Pumpkin Seeds 

2 cups Pumpkin Seeds 

1 tbl Olive Oil

Cleaned from a fresh pumpkin, and rinsed to separate all the pumpkin glops.

Next pat dry with paper towels and lay out on a cookie sheet to complete dry over night.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit

In a bowl put two cups of pumpkin seeds and add 1tblsp of Olive Oil. Toss together so all are coated.

Next pour sunflower seeds on a baking sheet and divide in half.

Ben's Version

1.5 tbsp raw sugar

1 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Salt

Sprinkle mixture over half of the pumpkin seeds ( 1 cup worth)

Lauren's Version

1 tsp chili 

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp garlic powder 

1 tbsp raw sugar

1 tsp black sesame seeds for a bit of an edgy look

Sprinkle mixture over second half of the pumpkin seeds ( 1 cup worth)

(all measurements are truly based on personal preference!) 

Get creative with you seedlings, try flavors such as thyme, cocoa and chili powder, basil  and balsamic, or lavender and cardamon. Use that imagination!