Gilligan's Gourmet: Halloween treats - roast pumkin seeds and pumkin soup recipes

Yesterday I took the Gilligan Clan to our local pumpkin patch so the kids could pick out their own pumpkins to carve into Jack O’Lanterns. It was lovely day and great to spend some time outdoors with the kids that didn’t involve ice cream, juice boxes, wet clothes and sand in my navel.

They picked out a couple of nice ones and when I went to pay the little old lady informed me that they were $25 each!!!

What? For a pumpkin? Really? We don’t even eat them. We cut holes in them scoop out the innards, throw that in the garbage and stick a candle up it’s jacksy!

The price is due to the flooding up north from the hurricane apparently, so this year we are going to use every last bit of these pumpkins and I am going to show you how but first off, why do we even carve a pumpkin to begin with? Well let me tell you…

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The story of the Jack O'Lantern comes from Irish folklore. Jack was a crafty farmer who tricked the Devil into climbing a tall tree. When the Devil reached the highest branch, Jack carved a large cross in the trunk, making it impossible for the Devil to climb down.

In exchange for help getting out of the tree, the Devil promised never to tempt Jack with evil again. When Jack died, he was turned away from Heaven for his sins and turned away from Hell because of his trickery. Condemned to wander the earth without rest, Jack carved out one of his turnips, took an ember from the devil, and used it for a lantern to light his way. He became known as "Jack of the Lantern."

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds

Toasted and salted, pumpkin seeds have a nutty flavor. They're even better flavored with sweet and savory spices

Rinse pumpkin seeds under cold water and pick out the pulp and strings. (This is easiest just after you've removed the seeds from the pumpkin, before the pulp has dried.)

Place the pumpkin seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet, stirring to coat. If you prefer, omit the oil and coat with non-stick cooking spray.

Sprinkle with salt and bake at 325 degrees F until toasted, about 25 minutes, checking and stirring after 10 minutes.

Let cool and store in an air-tight container.

Pumpkin seeds aren’t just a good snack there are a multitude of health benefits associated with them such as…

Help stimulate appetite.

Beneficial for the teeth, gums, nerves, hair and nails.

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