Pumpkin carving is a fun Halloween tradition that kids love to do year after year. But parents are sometimes a little less excited about carving up a jack o' lantern because it makes such a huge mess. But parents, did you know that part of that leftover mess can make a tasty snack for you and your whole family?
Mixed in with the slime and guts that come from inside the middle of that big jack o' lantern are dozens of pumpkin seeds. Those seeds can be cooked up and eaten, and they are so delicious that everyone in your household will enjoy eating them. Luckily, turning the slimy seeds into edible delights is so easy that your kids could even do it by themselves. But why not make a family tradition out of setting aside a nice after noon for carving the pumpkin and then making and eating the seeds together, as a family? It will make for nice memories.
First you have to buy a good pumpkin. If you are seeking out the freshest possible pumpkins go straight to the source and take the family out to visit a pumpkin patch where the pumpkins are being grown. You can choose one right off of the vine. But realistically speaking, not everyone has access to a local pumpkin patch. So if you can't make it out to a pumpkin farm just follow these guidelines when you are choosing a pumpkin from the grocery store. A good pumpkin will be free of surface damage such as scrapes and punctures. It will be a nice bright orange with a stem that is still somewhat green instead of brown. It should also feel a little heavy for its size, no matter what its size is. For example, even if you select one of the hugest pumpkins you can find, it should still feel heavier when held than you expected it to.
How to:
1) When you are carving up the pumpkin you selected, do so outside on a piece of newspaper. Bring out a nice big bowl full of water and set it aside.
2) Dig out all the pumpkins slimy guts and set them on the newspaper. Have the children dig their hands through the yucky guts and sort out all of the seeds; have them put all of the seeds into the bowl of water and leave the guts on the newspaper. Allow the pumpkin seeds to sit in the bowl of water until you are finished carving.
3) When you are ready to bring the seeds inside, dump them into a colander and run hot water over them. Wash them thoroughly to make sure that there is no slime left on them.
4) You or the kids can then put them on a dish towel and pat them dry.
5) Place them on a cookie sheet.
6) The children can practice cooking techniques by measuring and pouring out one and one-half or two tablespoons of vegetable or olive oil and drizzling it over the seeds. They can get their hands messy by mixing the seeds around in the oil until all of them are well coated.
7) Sprinkle the seeds with salt and place them in the oven. Set the oven to about 250- 300 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the seeds until they look slightly browned.
8) Let them cool for a few minutes and they are ready to eat! Yummy!
