Who is Jack? He’s Mr. Jack-O-Lantern, that’s who. He arrives every year just before Halloween and hangs out on our front porch for a while enjoying the cooler weather and watching the neighborhood activity. He also brings snacks in the form of a pile of plump, nutty pumpkin seeds that can be cleaned and roasted for a perfect post pumpkin carving treat.   Before you get rid of your pumpkin seeds, and before you start planning your Thanksgiving pies, consider using those pumpkin seeds.  There are lots of helpful resources listed below.

Roasting the seeds is very easy. Simply separate the seeds from the pulp, rinse them if you like (or not as Betty Crocker tells us that a little pulp makes for more flavorful snacking.)  Spread in a pan with a tablespoon of oil and salt and bake at 325°F for 20-25 minutes until lightly brown and toasted. That’s it. If you are feeling more adventurous, add a little spice for either savory or sweet variations of the basic pumpkin seed recipe. Several can be found at www.allrecipes.com.

As I munch pumpkin seeds, visions of pumpkin breads, pumpkin cookies, baked pumpkin and pumpkin pie flitter through my mind. I had hoped that Jack might help me with my pie preparations for Thanksgiving, but it turns out that he is not that kind of guy. According to my research, Jack may be attractive enough but lacks the substance for the perfect pumpkin pie.  Somehow I don’t think he will be too disappointed if I head to the farmer’s market for other assistance in my next culinary adventure with pumpkins. Check out some of the resources below for more yummy pumpkin recipes.