It’s the fall season and pumpkin and winter squashes are some of my favorite foods.
Their flesh and seeds are a bounty of nutrition. Pumpkin seeds are loaded with protein, almost 40 grams of protein per 1 cup of seeds. Pumpkin seeds are also a very good source of magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, copper, selenium, manganese and also provide Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, Folate, Choline, Vitamin E and Vitamin K.
Additionally, they are good source of tryptophan and magnesium which help the body relax and improve sleep.
I love nuts and seed and particularly pumpkin seeds. They are very good for you because they are a rich source of nutrients. Rarely do people harvest their own seeds from their pumpkin or there neighbors pumpkin. If you don’t save and eat them, you are wasting a very nutritious part of the pumpkin!!
So please, make the most of your pumpkin seeds this year. Use this great recipe provided by our very own Chef Karen.
All nuts and seeds offer more nutritional value when eaten raw but a treat like this recipe is a great alternative for a really healthy snack.
Fall Chaitober Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Rinse your fresh Pumpkin seeds
Lay them out on a flat dish and dab excess water off of them
Pour into large mixing bowl
Lightly coat with Olive oil, about 1 TBS. for two cups, (just a light coating)
You may use any spice you wish, here are some examples make sure they are pure spices and no added sugar.
- Apple Pie spice
- Pumpkin Pie spice
- Cinnamon Spice
- Nutmeg
- Cayenne (optional, I like to spicing things up a little)
Sprinkle your choice of spice onto the seeds , toss them and coat them lightly but evenly
Then drizzle raw local honey all over the seeds, you are “coating” not “dredging” your seeds in honey so use just enough.
For 2 cups of seeds use about 1 TBS or so of raw local honey.
Lay your seeds out on a flat cookie sheet or baking sheet in a single layer
Roast in your oven at 350 degrees for about 15 min.
Turn your seeds over with a spatula
Roast for another 15 Min.
Check to see if they are roasting and not burning. The honey can burn easily.
Usually 30 min. in the oven serves up a lovely batch of seeds.
Now cool them and use a spatula and scrape along the bottom of the pan because the honey makes the seeds stick.
Add salt to your taste preference with a Himalayan salt mill.
Now take Vive Energy Spice Chai flavor mix and coat the seeds generously. Pour on top of the roasted seeds and stir them up or shake them in a bag or container. The Vive powder will stick easily to the roasted seeds.
OH My Chaitober Goodness!!!
Happy Eating!!
Wally Bishop C.N.C.
The contents of this blog are not and should not be considered medical advice. This blog is for informational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Never quit taking prescription medications unless advised to do so by your doctor. Before exercising get your doctors approval.