As Halloween approaches and many people carve goofy or spooky pumpkins to display on their front porches, you may want to hang onto those globs of stringy pumpkin "guts" and seeds.
Carving pumpkins, known as jack-o'-lanterns, has roots in 19th-century Irish folklore, where illuminated pumpkins or turnips were used to ward away evil spirits, according to History.com. One wandering spirit in particular was known as "Stingy Jack" ― a man who tricked the devil one too many times and ended up wandering Earth in his afterlife, seemingly with nowhere to go.
"The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as 'Jack of the lantern,' and then, simply 'jack o’ lantern,'" according to History.com.
While the origin may be slightly unsettling, carving silly expressions into pumpkins is rather light-hearted and easy to do.
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As you and your kids dig out your pumpkins' "innards," don't forget the seeds can make a tasty and healthy snack, and provide a second project to take on with your family.
Pumpkin seeds may be flavored and baked for long-term storage and consumed as a snack or used to make granola, brittle or even as a topping for salads.
Pumpkin seeds are full of nutrients, according to WebMD. They contain protein, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. They may help reduce the risk of diseases such as cancer and chronic inflammation.
Here's how to roast pumpkin seeds:
How do I roast pumpkin seeds?
With a nutrient-rich snack like pumpkin seeds, a little goes a long way in terms of supporting hormonal health.
Pumpkin seeds come out of the gourd with a lot of water inside and need to be dried to store for long periods. Here's what to do:
Cut the top off the pumpkin, remove the seeds, clean them and spread them on a plate or napkin.
Wash the stringy fiber off the seeds in the sink. Make sure the seeds are clean, then dry them off.
Fully dry the seeds in the sun or in a dehydrator at 115 to 120 degrees for 1 to 2 hours, MSU experts recommend. If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can use the oven by turning it to warm and letting them dry in the oven for 3-4 hours.
Roast the seeds by tossing the dried seeds with oil and salt, a cinnamon and sugar combination, or a flavoring of your choice.
Spread the seeds on a cookie or baking sheet, then toast them in the oven at 250 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
How can I season pumpkin seeds? 8 recipes
Here are eight pumpkin seed-centered recipes:
