Pumpkin Seeds and Pumpkin Puree

Happy Halloween!  Well, happy belated Halloween.  I do realize this post may be a little late for the pumpkin season, but wanted to still post it anyway.  Maybe next year, when you are buying your pumpkin, you will think of this, and look forward to what you can do with it once the festivities are over!

This year we got 2 pumpkins.  One to carve for Halloween, and for it's seeds, and the other to paint (also for Halloween) and then use for seeds and pumpkin puree.  When choosing a pumpkin for eating, you usually want a smaller (around 3 or 4 lb.), sugar pumpkin as they tend to be a little sweeter.  Mine this year were not so small, but still worked!  So here are 2 recipes.  One is for making pumpkin seeds.  I have tried several methods, and this one has turned out the best, over and over again.  The second one will be for pumpkin puree.  Both are super easy, and an excellent way to use your whole pumpkin!

Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients:

pumpkin seeds
2 tbsp butter
big pinch of salt

When you are carving your pumpkin for Halloween, or just wanting to use it, make sure you scope out all the seeds.  Remove any big pieces of pulp, but do not rinse the seeds.  I know most other recipes call for you to rinse the seeds, but trust me on this, skip rinsing them.  The little bit of pulp on the seeds adds a really nice flavor.  Preheat your oven to 325°.  Melt 2 tbsp butter and add to seeds.  Add a good pinch of salt and stir to coat the seeds.  Spread evenly on a foil lined baking sheet.  Bake for 25 minutes stirring halfway through.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Puree

Ingredients:

Pumpkin

Water

Preheat oven to 350°.  Scoop out seeds and pulp and make above!  Cut the pumpkin into quarters or eights (whatever will fit in a glass baking dish).  I had to do this in 2 batches since my pumpkin was so big.  Place pumpkin in dish flesh side down.  Add about a 1/4 inch of water to dish and bake 45 - 60 minutes, or until pumpkin is soft.  Let cool some, and scrape out flesh into a food processor, and blend until smooth.  Now your pumpkin puree is ready to use!  Can be used for pies, sauces, fillings, or what ever else you want pumpkin puree for!  Enjoy!