The moment October 1st comes around, my kitchen instantly switches from late summer tomatoes and oven-less cooking to roasting autumn squashes and getting ready for holiday season. For us that means Indian holidays like Diwali and Navratri, but also one of our family favorites: Halloween!

We carve our pumpkins a week before Halloween at our annual pumpkin-carving block party, after which we are left with handfuls of raw white pumpkin seeds. I hate to discard them every year; pumpkin seeds are nutritious!

The creamy white seeds are the unhulled pumpkin seed and the olive green kernel inside is the hulled pumpkin seed, also known is pepitas. The unhulled white pumpkin seeds are crunchier and coarser but when roasted and seasoned are tasty, on their own or in a trail mix.

Looking for a variation yesterday on roasting pumpkin seeds, I got inspired by Cookbooks on using ground tea as a seasoning for them. If the scent of the masala is not extremely strong it should make your children sneeze , try grinding your own, like Rabbit Food Rocks does.

html Print Recipe Pin Recipe Ingredients 1 cup pumpkin seeds rinsed in a strainer several times to remove pumpkin goop 1 tablespoon butter melted OR 2 teaspoons ghee, softened ¼ to ½ teaspoon chai masala recipe again, right here 2 teaspoons sugar ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon ground Assam or English Breakfast or Earl Grey tea leaves optional Instructions Preheat oven to degrees.

If you have time, you can lay out the seeds on a paper towel to air-dry or towel dry them. Place seeds in a medium-sized bowl. Stir in the butter or ghee, coating the seeds well.

Sprinkle chai masala over seeds. Sprinkle sugar over seeds. Sprinkle salt over seeds. I know you feel the urge to stir, but no need to just yet. Roast in oven for 10 minutes.

Now stir and try to scatter them again in a thin layer. Continue roasting for another minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning. Sprinkle a dash more salt and sugar and add more to taste. Sprinkle ground tea if using and gently stir. oops let me fix that!!

thank you for pointing it out. I had double checked it too.. not sure what happened! Thanks Sheila! I thought that was a great combination too that the next day I just made a trail mix out of both of them!

A spice grinder basically sold as a coffee grinder is about bucks. She spends her free time cooking, collecting props, and blogging about life and food at LublYou.

Sign up for our newsletter. By: Kate Kosaya. bag Earl Grey tea, tea removed from bag. Earl Grey and Honey Roasted Pumpkin Seeds. Place the pumpkin seeds in a colander and run under water to rinse and separate the seeds from the pulp.

Spread the clean seeds on a baking sheet or cutting board and pat dry with a paper towel. Preheat the oven to °F.

Some research suggests that pumpkin seeds may contain plant compounds that could help protect against cancer growth 5. In fact, a observational study found that eating pumpkin seeds was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women 6.

Other older studies suggest that the lignans in pumpkin seeds may play a key role in preventing and treating breast cancer 7.

Furthermore, one test-tube study found that pumpkin seed extract had the potential to slow down the growth and spread of prostate cancer cells 8. Pumpkin seeds may help relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH , a condition in which the prostate gland enlarges, causing problems with urination.

Several studies in humans found that eating these seeds reduced symptoms associated with BPH 9 , In a study, pumpkin seed oil consumption was able to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life in 73 people with BPH. Additionally, though pumpkin seed oil was not as effective as a prescription medication, it was associated with fewer negative side effects Further research suggests that taking pumpkin seeds or their products as supplements can help treat symptoms of an overactive bladder.

One older study in 45 people with overactive bladders found that taking 10 g of pumpkin seed oil extract daily improved urinary function Pumpkin seeds are one of the best natural sources of magnesium , a mineral that is often lacking in the diets of many Western populations.

Magnesium is needed for more than chemical reactions in your body. Adequate levels of magnesium are also important for 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 :. Pumpkin seeds are rich in magnesium.

Healthy magnesium levels are important for your blood pressure and blood sugar levels, as well as heart and bone health. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of antioxidants, magnesium, zinc, and unsaturated fats, all of which may help keep your heart healthy 1.

Human and animal studies have also shown that pumpkin seed oil may reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels , two important risk factors for heart disease 19 , Nitric oxide helps expand blood vessels, improving blood flow and reducing the risk of plaque growth in your arteries Nutrients in pumpkin seeds may help keep your heart healthy by reducing blood pressure and increasing good cholesterol.

Some older animal studies have shown that pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed powder, and pumpkin juice can reduce blood sugar 23 , One study in healthy adults found that those who consumed meals containing 65 g about 2 oz of pumpkin seeds had lower blood sugar levels after a high carb meal Interestingly, the high magnesium content of pumpkin seeds may be responsible for its positive effect on diabetes.

Still, more research is needed to confirm these beneficial effects of pumpkin seeds on blood sugar levels. Pumpkin seeds may help reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. However, more research is needed.

Pumpkin seeds are a great source of dietary fiber. In fact, shelled seeds provide 1. A diet high in fiber can promote good digestive health In addition, high fiber diets have been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity Whole pumpkin seeds are a good source of fiber.

Diets high in fiber are associated with many health benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Low zinc levels are associated with reduced sperm quality and an increased risk of infertility in males Since pumpkin seeds are a rich source of zinc , they may improve sperm quality.

Interestingly, evidence from one animal study found that supplementing with pumpkin seed oil and vitamin E improved sperm quality and reproductive performance in roosters Pumpkin seeds are also high in antioxidants and other nutrients that can contribute to healthy testosterone levels and improve overall health Together, all these factors may benefit fertility levels and reproductive function, especially in males.

If you have trouble sleeping, you may want to eat some pumpkin seeds before bed. According to a study, consuming at least 1 g of tryptophan daily is thought to improve sleep However, note that you would need to eat around 6 oz g of pumpkin seeds to achieve the needed amount of tryptophan 1.

Pumpkin seeds are also an excellent source of magnesium. Adequate magnesium levels have also been associated with better sleep, according to some observational studies Some studies have found that taking a magnesium supplement could improve sleep quality and decrease the amount of time it takes to fall asleep in older adults with insomnia 35 , Pumpkin seeds are a good source of tryptophan and magnesium, both of which help promote good sleep.

You could incorporate them into meals by sprinkling them into salads, soups, or cereals. Some people use pumpkin seeds in baking, as an ingredient for sweet or savory bread and cakes. However, as with many seeds and nuts, they contain phytic acid , which can reduce the bioavailability of some nutrients you eat If you eat seeds and nuts regularly, you may want to soak or sprout them to reduce their phytic acid content Pumpkin seeds can be easily incorporated into your diet as a snack or ingredient in meals or baking.

In fact, pumpkin seeds have been shown to improve heart health, blood sugar levels, fertility, and sleep quality. They may even protect against certain types of cancer. In addition, their rich nutrient content may provide other health benefits, such as improved energy, mood, and immune function.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Along with a healthy diet, seeds can help reduce blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure.

Here are 6 super seeds to eat for better health. Apples are a popular and healthy fruit, and a big part of American culture and history. Apples are easy to cultivate and tailor to certain tastes…. Though chia and flax seeds are both incredibly healthy, many people wonder if one is healthier than the other.

Here is a detailed review of the…. Pumpkin seed oil is a common cooking oil and supplement. This article takes an in-depth look at the potential health benefits and downsides of pumpkin….

Here are just a few ideas on what to do with pumpkin seeds:. Aislinn Sarnacki, a staff writer for Hello Homestead, is an avid hiker and wildlife enthusiast who is passionate about conservation and has an interest in self-sufficiency, survivalism, foraging and all things green.

She and her husband live in the woods of Maine, where they collect chaga mushrooms, befriend flying squirrels and struggle to garden in the rocky soil. Are backyard chickens OK in the cold? How to make campfire baked apples. They moved to Maine during the pandemic to pursue their homesteading dreams.

The ultimate guide to deciding which allium to plant in your Maine garden. Leave A Reply Cancel reply. Sign me up for the newsletter! By Aislinn Sarnacki Last updated Sep 28, Here are just a few ideas on what to do with pumpkin seeds: Roast, toast or fry them up. You can cook the seeds with butter and salt for a little added flavor and crispiness, and several online recipes add a variety of spices to this mix, some savory and some sweet.

Make pumpkin seed tea. A traditional remedy for many ailments, including stomach issues, menopausal symptoms, parasites and more, pumpkin seeds are often ground up with a food processor and made into tea, usually mixed with complementing ingredients, such as ginger and cinnamon.

In fact, an old story about pumpkin seed tea being used in the Bangor area to treat a boy with parasites is available through the Maine Folklife Center , recorded in The storyteller, Elsie Diamond Smith, was born in New Brunswick around and had extensive knowledge about herbal remedies.

Have fun with pumpkin seed art. Being fairly flat and easy to color, pumpkin seeds are great for creating mosaics. They can be colored with paint or markers, then arranged on paper or another medium with wood glue or hot glue.

A variety of these creations can be found online, including painted trees for which the seeds have been used as leaves. Wear the seeds. Pumpkin seed bracelets and necklaces are easy to make by stringing them together with a needle and thread.

And to jazz it up, you can dye the seeds by placing them in a jar with food coloring and water overnight. You can also add dried corn to the ensemble, as seen on the blog gingerbreadsnowflakes.

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cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary 11 months This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Transcript: Where I have seen pumpkin seed to work was [Odom Meeks], when he was a small boy, kept having convulsions.

I guess he had about thirty, and an old lady came in and asked his mother if she might give him this. She used the pumpkin seed tea; she boiled the pumpkin seed and made a tea and within fifteen minutes after he had taken this tea hot, he passed great masses of worms.

Oh, it would just make you squirm because these things were crawling! It was so- and stopped the convulsions. Apply to UMaine A-Z Calendar Give Map News Careers myUMaine.

Maine Folklife Center. Alternatively, you can speed up the drying process by placing them in an oven set at a low temperature around °F or 65°C for about minutes. If desired, you can enhance the flavor of the pumpkin seeds by roasting them.

Preheat your oven to °F °C. Toss the dried seeds with a small amount of oil and your preferred seasonings, such as salt, pepper, or cinnamon. Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for about minutes, or until they turn golden brown.

Allow the roasted seeds to cool completely. Once the seeds are completely dry and optionally roasted, transfer them to a coffee grinder, spice grinder, or food processor. Grind the seeds until they reach a fine powder consistency.

This ground powder will be used to make the tea. Bring a pot of water to a boil. For every cup of water, add tablespoons of the ground pumpkin seed powder. Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for about minutes.

Remove the pot from heat and let it steep for an additional 5 minutes. Using a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth, strain the tea into a teapot or individual cups to remove any remaining solids.