Life's Coming Attractions

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Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Asking For Help From Special People

I know it's still September but Halloween will be here before I know it. LOL When you have kids, Halloween seems like tomorrow in their eyes because they start thinking about what they want for a costume. I don't dress up because I'm not into that but I am into the fun of trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving. As I sat down to send out my drawing reminder email to my list of entrants who happen to be special people in my life, some who I've come to know on a personal level, I was thinking about the pumpkin carving my kids like so much. All of the sudden, I realized, what do I do with the pumpkin seeds that are leftover? I vaguely remember eating them as a kid but nothing else after that except scooping them up and throwing them away.

So, I asked my list of entrants to offer any ideas they had to do with the seeds and/or recipes I could try. I also offered a free votive and Mia Melt Tart for any ideas/recipes they had. After all, I am asking for help and greatly appreciate what they had to offer. :-)

A few wonderful creative people wrote back and suggested different things to do. I thought I'd post them here to share them with you in hopes it could provide a little extra fun-filled activities to make Hallowen even more fun. I truly appreciate these ladies for their input and a big warm thank you goes out to them. :-)

Enjoy!!


Hi Mary, thought I would give you a couple ideas with the pumpkin seeds you can toast them in the oven. makes good snack or dry the seeds out and plant a pumpkin patch with them next year for the kids, that would be fun. - Betty H., NC

Hi Mary, we always put our left over seed on a cookie sheet with some olive oil and Kosher salt and roast them in the oven. While cooking stir/flip the seeds so they cook even. - Heather D., FL

Hi Mary, Happy Autumn! Well, I have several ides for you, for not only your pumpkin seeds, but also the pulp. Here are just a few : Enjoy!

Pumpkin Bread
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup water
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. cloves

Preheat oven to 350. Mix the flour, salt, sugar, & baking soda. In a separate bowl, combine the pumpkin, oil, eggs, water, & spices. Pour into the bowl w/ dry ingredients & mix just until all are combined. (Do not over-stir.)Spray a 9 x 5 x 3-in. loaf pan with cooking spray and pour in batter. Bake 50-60 minutes until done in the middle. Remove from pan, cool on a rack.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Boil seeds in water for 5 minutes. Drain well. Sprinkle with salt or seasoned salt. Place a thin layer on a cookie sheet. Bake at 250 degrees. Stir after 30 minutes. Bake 1/2-1 hour more or until crunchy.

Spiced Pumpkin Seeds
1 1/2 tbs. margarine, melted
1/2 tsp.salt
1/8 tsp. garlic salt
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.Combine the margarine, salt, garlic salt, Worcestershire sauce and pumpkin seeds. Mix thoroughly and place in shallow baking dish. Bake for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Pumpkin Smoothies
1/2 cup pumpkin3/4 cup milk or vanilla yogurt1/4 tsp. cinnamon1/8 tsp. nutmeg2 tsp. brown sugar4 ice cubes
Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into2-3 glasses. (Optional~Serve with a small amount of whipped cream on top.) Serves 2-3.
- Tricia W., NJ


Hi Mary, You could also put your left over pumpkin seeds in your birdfeeders.Pumpkin seeds make a tastey treat for the birds!

Orange-Pumpkin Pudding
4 slices whole-wheat bread
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup apple juice concentrate
2 eggs
1 banana sliced
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup cooked pumpkin
Dash of salt
Dice bread slices and crumble them in a blender. Place the crumbs in square baking dish. Blend together milk, orange juice and apple juice concentrate. Add eggs, banana slices, cinnamon, pumpkin and salt and blend again. Add the mixture to the bread crumbs. Stir together. Bake at 350oF for 50 minutes. Serve slightly warm. Makes 8 servings.
- Susan J., NC


WOW! That Pumpkin Smoothie sounds delicious and tempting. I even think my kids will go for that too if I don't eat it all myself first. LOL

Thank you ladies for your help, I knew I could count on the special people in my life to come through for me.

If any of you readers out there would like to submit an idea/recipe for the seeds or pumpkin parts (lol) feel free to email them to me. You can go to http://www.candlepassion.net, enter the candle drawing and then email me with your submission. My email address is on my website. Thanks in advance! :-)