A Healthier Halloween: Roasted Pumpkins Seeds

Ugghh. No, this isn't going to be a post about handing out raisins on Halloween.

This post is about what you can add to your own counter-top treats this year that's not quite as punishing as that Snickers bar you've been eyeing.


Step one: Carve your pumpkins.


Step two: Keep the seeds.


When I was a kid we always rinsed the seeds, sprayed them with Pam, and doused them with salt. This is a tasty option, let me tell you, although the sodium intake makes "healthy" a bit questionable. Still, it's healthier than a Snickers, right?


When I grew up, in addition to finding out that you could cut fancy designs into your pumpkins, I also discovered that you can fancy up your pumpkin seeds. Lots of recipes call for oil or butter rather than Pam with the salt. But there are even fancier options, for sure. Here are a few:


Hilda's Recipe (crushed red pepper and garlic salt
Gourmet Mix (like the above, plus a bunch more)
Sweet & Spicy (with cinnamon and peanut oil)
Sugar & Spice (more dessert-like)
And for the super-ambitious among you: Caramelized Pumpkin Seeds


Setting aside the time to carve a pumpkin together and clean the seeds makes for a wonderful tradition. Following it with one of these fresh from the oven treats: Fantastic!