SPICED PUMPKIN SEEDS

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SPICED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Get the most out of your pumpkins this season by roasting and spicing pumpkin seeds, and enjoy all the health benefits they have to offer. 

One of my abiding images of Dad is him sitting in his favourite armchair, eyes glued to the cricket or rugby match on TV, cold beer in hand, and surrounded by discarded packets of crisps or salted nuts (cashews are a particular favorite). Dad is a snacker extraordinaire.

 Of course, we're all guilty of snacking, and it's rarely on healthy, reasonable foods like fruit. During these colder months, there's nothing I enjoy more than snuggling up on the sofa under a warm blanket, watching a favourite movie or reading a good book, and enjoying a good old snack. And no matter how much I enjoy it, I always end up with a snack-induced guilt hangover.

 But these healthy spiced pumpkin seeds are just the thing to satisfy my cravings and not feel too guilty about it afterwards. This Halloween I had a couple of pumpkins on hand. After removing the flesh and making a pumpkin cake, I was left with two bowlfuls of seeds, which I decided to roast and spice. 

 When prepared this way, pumpkin seeds have that all-important crunch factor, while the variety of spices ensures an explosion of flavours in every handful. I like to experiment and tend to use different spices every time I make them. They can be made very simply using just salt and olive oil if you prefer. You can also sprinkle spiced pumpkin seeds over salads and soup.

 What's more, pumpkin seeds are loaded with nutrients including Vitamin E, zinc, magnesium and copper, and are even a source of protein. A snack that's tasty and heathy: what's not to love? 

Spiced pumpkin seeds

Ingredients
Pumpkin seeds
Olive oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp turmeric 
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp ground pepper

 1) Heat the oven to 250°C.
2) Rinse the pumpkin seeds in a colander, removing any flesh.
3) Place the pumpkin seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet and pat dry.
4) Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle the dry ingredients evenly over the pumpkin seeds.
5) Stir the pumpkin seeds around, ensuring they are evenly covered, then arrange them in a single layer again.
5) Roast for 20-30 minutes, giving them a stir about halfway through.

 Store in a mason jar. 

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