Halloween Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

It's Halloween! If you carved a pumpkin this year, or were going to get around to it tonight... make sure to set aside those pumpkin seeds. A few weeks ago, in our Fit Fall Foods post, we gave you a few reasons to eat pumpkin seeds, and if you're not convinced yet-here's more:

-One quarter-cup of seeds contains more than half your daily value of magnesium
-They are a rich source of Zinc, which helps with immunity, sleep, mood, eye and skin health.
-Great source of plant-based Omega-3s
-Contain anti-inflammatory properties
Just to name a few.

So, what do we do with them? They can be bought at the store, or for the price of a few minutes work, they can be enjoyed much more cheaply. As the by-product of pumpkin carving, these nutrient powerhouses normally just get tossed out with the rest of the pumpkin innards.

Instead of throwing all that goodness away, rinse the seeds thoroughly and let them sit in a strainer for about 30 minutes.
Spread them out onto a cookie sheet, and allow them to dry for another 30 minutes, or use a hairdryer to speed things along.
-Preheat the oven to 275 F
-Season the dried seeds.
But what to season them with? Here's a few ideas to get you started: We prefer coconut oil, but you could always use butter if you don't mind the calories. 

Natural: 1 teaspoon sea salt, 4 tablespoons melted coconut oil
Lemon Pepper:  4 tablespoons melted coconut oil, 1 teaspoon 'Mrs. Dash" or lemon pepper
Pumpkin Pie Style: 4 tablespoons melted coconut oil, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon salt,  and 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
Spicy: 4 tablespoons melted coconut oil, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper (or add Sriracha)
Savory: 4 tablespoons coconut oil or butter, 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt and 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
-Bake in the 275 F heated oven for 10-20 minutes or until golden. Make sure to keep an eye on them and give them a stir every 5 minutes or so. Give them an extra sprinkle of salt and serve hot or cold.

Happy Halloween!