When the pumpkin is carved, there is another memory to make – Roasted Pumpkin Seeds!!
Pumpkin carving was always a BIG night for me. Dad would give me a piece of paper to work out the details on – mouth, eyes, nose – and then we would trace my drawing onto the front of the pumpkin. With a few sheets of the Oregon Journal covering our kitchen table, Dad would cut the top and pull it off, and then he and I would degut the pumpkin together while my mom watched. (She didn’t like the feel of pumpkin guts and left that part entirely to us.) Then Dad would help me carve the face, letting me hold the knife and showing me how to carefully cut each angle and line, all the while entertaining me with a steady string of his Halloween teacher-jokes. (What do ghosts put on their cereal? Booberries!)
I was four or five in this picture, and I have no idea what motivated me to draw a beard on my Jack-o-lantern, but there it is.
The scariest thing about Halloween “back in the day”? Trying to breathe under those masks!
I remember being so excited when our Jack-o-lantern was done! Mom would put some aluminum foil in the bottom of the pumpkin and set a white candle inside, and Dad used a long-handled match from our fireplace to reach down in and light the candle. Then he put the lid on and dimmed the lights and we would all stand back and watch the candle dance inside. That was the best, best, best part of Halloween. The trick-or-treating was fine, and the candy was great too, but that moment when we lit our pumpkin – that was Magic! Nowadays, a lot folks are painting their pumpkins or covering them with glitter and such, but not me. As long as I can manage it, there will be a Jack-o-Lantern on my porch – that little light shining out and the scent of warm pumpkin filling the air.
When the pumpkin is carved and lit, there is another memory to make: Pumpkin Seeds!!
PRO TIP – Quick, easy Pumpkin Seed Clean-up
1. Separate as much of the pulp as you can by hand. (“As much as you can” really means as long as you can stand it. For me, that’s about a minute. Pumpkin guts make my hands itch.)
2. Get a big bowl and fill it with water. Put the seeds in, pulp and all, and start squishing them around with your hands. The pulp will sink to the bottom, and the seeds will rise to the top. Easy peasy.
Once the pumpkin seeds are cleaned up, there are endless possibilities. Here are some ideas to get you started, courtesy of some of my favorite bloggers buddies:
- Spiced Pumpkin Seeds {Flavour & Savour}
- Crunchy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds {Living Sweet Moments}
- Sweet & Salty Roasted Pumpkin Seeds {Sidewalk Shoes}
- Sweet Salty Roasted Pumpkin Seeds {Nutmeg Nanny}
- Chocolate Lovers Roasted Pumpkin Seeds {Perspective Portions}
- Sweet Chili Roasted Pumpkin Seeds {Peter’s Food Adventures}
- Cajun-Spiced Roasted Pumpkin Seeds {4 Sons “R” Us}
- Sweet Pumpkin Seeds {Sugar Spun Run}
- Salted Caramel Roasted Pumpkin Seeds {Garden in the Kitchen}
- Pumpkin Spiced Pepitas {This is So Good}
Ooooooooh! I have to try some of these recipes! I’m not sure if I’ll carve a jack-o-lantern or make something with the pumpkin…maybe a pumpkin pie from scratch. 🙂
I have a good recipe for Homemade Pumpkin Butter here: http://www.whats4dinnermama.com/how-to-make-pumpkin-butter-with-real-pumpkins/ I find the seeds from those little Sugar Pie Pumpkins to be really tasty.
Great seed recipes. I love how you are trying to incorporate different styles of cooking to meet the needs of your family (and others). What a great service for the rest of us! I’m gluten-free, dairy-free myself.
Thank you, Tracy! I find that more and more people are having to adapt to different needs at their table, and it can be a challenge sometimes.
I don’t know why you are gluten-free, so forgive me for being presumptuous, but have you ever tried Sourdough bread? I’m working with a friend who is very gluten sensitive – making her long-rise sourdough; the natural sourdough yeast apparently predigests the gluten. There is some solid research that backs this up, and the fact that she is eating bread for the first time in years without the usual side effects is pretty awesome.
I’m currently on the GAPS diet, a grain-free, sugar-free program, to try and heal my gut. Have you heard of it? I’ve got multiple food sensitivities. I’ve heard that sourdough is a good option for some people that are gluten-free. I hope to be able to try it someday. Right now, I’m making good progress, but thank you for the suggestion!
Ooh, I love pumpkin seeds! Spiced maple?? That sounds delicious.
I’m with your mom, pumpkin guts are gross! But you’ve inspired me to dig up a photo of me in those plastic costumes
SO glad to have found your blog on SITS today! We’ve already done one pumpkin and I was determined to cook the seeds. Cooked them right to burnt. I’m using your guts tip and we’re going to try one of the recipes. Thanks!
Love the old retro costume – so cool. Those masks were crazy! Can’t breath – lol
Thanks for the tips on the pumpkin seeds – I love them but never tried the flavored ones. I will check out some of these ideas.
Stopping by from SITS 🙂
I remember that costume so clearly. I could hardly see and barely breathe – its was not nearly as much fun as it looked like it would be in the store!
Lol! I remember those plastic masks!! We would be sweating on the inside but loves those characters. My favorite costume like that was my Strawberry Shortcake one. Thanks for all the great ideas for pumpkin seeds too! Glad to have found you through SITS today 🙂
I had to pin the pumpkin seed recipes!! And you were just being creative with your pumpkin! 🙂 I found you thru Throw Back Thursday, and I hope you have a super, fun, and safe Halloween this year.
Brandi
Thanks for stopping in, Brandy! I hope your Halloween is boo-tiful too!
Your beautifully written memory of pumpkin carving brings back some similar memories for me. Thank you. I’m also pinning your seed roasting ideas because I always seem to mess them up.
My Halloween memory post for the SITS Blogtober challenge is here: http://www.thelieberfamily.com/2011/10/halloween-2011.html
Thank you for the kind words, Rabia! I checked your post – adorable costumes!! (I’m a little partial to that little grey mouse.)
I never did wear one of those gawd-awful masks!
Popped by from SITS Girls Throwback Thursday.
thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com
You don’t know what you missed!! (Lucky you!)
Thank you for the link love! 🙂
I love all things coconut, so when I saw your Cinnamon Coconut Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, I just had to include them in my round-up!!
I have fond memories of that moment when the pumpkin was lit, too! Now I love watching my grandkids eyes light up when the candle is lit. Thanks so much for including my pumpkin seed recipe in this round up! So many great ideas to check out.
Sweet family memory 🙂 I mostly remember the candy! We never really ate pumpkin seeds when I was a kid but these all look really tasty!
I hate the texture and smell of carving pumpkin and pumpkin guts, but I have no problem enjoying pumpkin seeds in all the ways you listed!!
This is PERFECT timing. We carved our pumpkins last night and have a huge tray full of clean pumpkin seeds and was looking for recipes this morning. Now to narrow it down. Maybe some sweet chili for me, and some salted caramel ones for the kids? Thanks for all the great ideas!