Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

When you are scrapping out your Halloween pumpkins before you carve your beautiful designs into them, be sure to save the seeds for roasting... don't let them go to waste, as they make a very nutritious and delicious snack.

My daugther's family just finished carving their pumpkins, and now the grandkids and me are roasting them in the oven; seasoning them with a mix of pumpkin spice, sugar and cinnamon for a sweet treat.

Directions
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. 

Seed the pumpkin:
Using a large, long-handled spoon, scrape both the pulp and seeds out of your pumpkin into a large bowl.

Clean the seeds: 

It's messy, but you'll want to separate the stringy pulp from the seeds you're about to roast. Rinse the seeds in a colander under cold water,  plucking out any remaining pulp, then shake dry. Don't blot with paper towels, as the seeds will stick.

Dry the seeds: 

On an oiled baking sheet, spread the seeds out in a single layer and roast at 300 degrees F for 30 minutes to dry them out.

Add spices: 

Leave the oven on at 300 degrees F, while tossing the seeds in a large bowl with a light drizzle of olive oil and your choice of spices according to taste. If savory, include salt. Return the seeds to the oven spread out on the same baking sheets, and bake until crispy and a light, golden color. It will take about 20 minutes or so. Keep an eye on them!

Sweet Toss (below): with cinnamon and sugar (pumpkin spice optional; do not use salt).
Indian Toss: with garam masala; mix with currants after roasting.
Spanish Toss: with smoked paprika; mix with slivered almonds after roasting.
Italian Toss: with grated parmesan and dried oregano.
Barbecue Toss: with brown sugar, chipotle chile powder and ground cumin.

Roasting...

Roasted... Yum!