Kiwis in the Kitchen

Every time I cut open a pumpkin someone says "save the seeds!" and I respond "who do you think your talking to!"

The tricky part is waht do you do with them next? Well flavor and toast them of course!

Toasting your Pumpkin Seeds

I scoop them out into a collender for easy rinsing and washing you simply want to remove the pulp of the pumpkin from the seeds. I find this simplest under running water. Once your seeds are all clean you can decided what flavor you want them to be or split them for a fun variety. Here are some fun ideas but be craetive and come up with some of your own

Simply Stalted
Cinimon and Sugar
Chilie amd Lime
Greek Syle -- Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend, Oregano, Salt, and Olive Oil
Buffalo Wings Pumpkin Seeds -- Butter, Tabasco Sauce, and Salt
Curried Pumpkin seeds - use a curry seasoning for simplicity

Mix together some of your seasoning with water and soak the seeds over night to allow them to absorb the flavor, the next day drain the water and toss in the remaning of your seasoning mix and spread on a cookie sheet and toast in a 300* oven until they reach a nice toasty color, stiring them 2-3 times through out the baking process

Today I am roasting pumpkins and watching Julie and Julia so I am inspired to use my blog account today.

Pumpkins endlessly fascinate and inspire me from their growth to their uses a I currently have them roasting in the oven and soon they will be pureed and ready to become a holiday masterpiece. It surprises me that little people know you can use pumpkin that doesn't come from a can so I will attempt to enlighten you, its uncompilably better and the smell of roasting pumpkins brings the warmth of the season to life.

Roasting Pumpkins 101

First start with a pumpkin any regular old pumpkin will do. I love to get them after Halloween when they are on clearance, $1 pumpkins here I come!

Then you will want to give your pumpkin a quick rinse to keep everything clean. put it on a cutting board, grab a large knife such as a chef's knife stick the tip of it in your pumpkin at the top near the stem and work it around to cut the pumpkin in half length wise. Once you have your pumpkin split scoop out all the seeds and save them to roast if you wish. The best way to roast your pumpkin is in a half like this. Simply place the pumpkin skin side up in your pan pour some water in there and place in a 350*/375* oven to roast away.

Often however it is difficult to get those pesky not so little pumpkins to fit in your roasting pan and oven with out cutting them down a little further if this is the case simply cut them into quarters and cover with tin foil. This allows the steam from the water to still be trapped and not dry out your soon to be delicious pumpkin pure

Pumpkin Stacking at its Best

It will take several hours for your pumpkin to roast. roast them until they are very soft. Once they are cool you can peel them, the skin should pull off pretty easy but you may need to use a pairing knife to help with a couple tricky spots.

After you have peeled the pumpkin it is time to blend it up in a food proccessor or blender,

The bottom of your roasting pan will be filled with the juices of from the pumpkin, use this to add to the puree as its blending to help thin it out and make it easier for the blender to manage