It’s worth the work for pumpkin seeds

It’s the time of year for blood and guts… pumpkin guts, that is.

Although you might be tempted to scoop the sticky mess from your would-be Halloween jack-o-lantern straight into the trash, it’s worth the effort to save the seeds for toasting (a seasonal tradition at my house).

Separate the seeds from the pulp and fiber and rinse them. Or not. Some people swear that leaving some of the pumpkin goo on the seeds improves the flavor. Spread the seeds on a cookie sheet and blot them with paper towels to remove any moisture. Toss the seeds with a little vegetable oil or butter and sprinkle with salt, or a seasoning of your choice. Roast in a 350 degree oven until they begin to brown, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Let them cool before snacking, but they taste best if you eat them soon after roasting.

Or, pumpkin seeds can be dried overnight. (According to some people, this is an essential step for the best flavor.) If you dry your pumpkin seeds first, roast them in a 250 degree oven for about an hour, stirring every 15 or 20 minutes until golden brown.

The entire seed, shell and all, is edible. Or, you can crack open the white, teardrop shaped shells to extract the seed inside. The seed itself is called a pepita and can be bought in most grocery stores as a snack.

According to the University of California at Berkeley’s “Wellness Encyclopedia of Food and Nutrition,” pumpkin seeds are lower in fat than most nuts and are an excellent source of iron.

Enjoy.

Ice cream in November

Just to prove ice cream is not just for summer anymore, Cold Stone Creamery is opening a new store in Spokane next month. The franchise offers ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet that is made fresh daily. Customers can dress up their treat with an array of mix-ins that include fresh fruit and nuts, pie fillings, chocolates, gummy candies, cookie dough, brownies and more. The ice cream is blended on a frozen granite stone.

The store will be located at 3011 E. 29th Ave. in the Lincoln Heights Shopping Center. There are more than 800 Cold Stone Creamery stores in 46 states.