halloween eats
I guess you know you are a foodie when holidays are all about the meal. Being a Jewish mom, there is brisket on Rosh Hashana, Chinese Food on Yom Kippur, latkas on Hanukkah and spicy seeds on Halloween. Now, Halloween is not really recognized by the religious Jewish community, but making roasted seeds is as traditional for me as turkey is on Thansgiving.
I invented my recipe for spicy pumpkin seeds so long ago that I don’t remember. They are the favorite of family and friends alike. It all started about 15 years ago when I had an idea to “steal” pumpkins from a local farmer in Camarillo. Immoral – yes. Stupid – yes. But I didn’t know how to get the volumn of seeds that I would need from buying pumpkins in the market. I didn’t have a family or children so jack-0-laterns were not that important to me. It was all about the seeds.
When I started making my spicy pumpkin seeds, I didn’t know anyone who did much with seeds besides roast with some salt. Loving spicy things, I wanted to make seeds that had flavor. The next year, and for a few years after, I abandoned the seed stealing and family and friends would donate their seed stash to me with hopes that I would return them cleaned, spiced and baked.
When we moved to Santa Clarita, I asked pumpkin stand owners if they would give me the pumpkins that they didn’t sell but no one would give them for anything less than 1/2 price after Halloween was over. That was until I met Nancy at Nancy’s Ranch. 
Nancy is the nicest lady I’ve met. She has farming in her blood. When she is done with Halloween, she begins with Christmas trees. Nancy’s is on Magic Moutain Parkway between the 5 and McBean on the north side of the street. Nancy has allowed my husband and I to complete our annual “pumpkin run”. We fill our Excursion with pumpkins, clean out the seeds and dispose of the carcasses. Do not bother with those pumpkin pushers who just buy pumpkins to sell. And don’t go to those packed Halloween activites centers in the heat. Try Nancy’s. Its real farming right there on Magic Moutain Parkway. http://nancysranch.com
So the spicy seed saga began and continues to this day. And the recipe will go with me. However, you can order my famous spicy seeds by checking out my website at www.chefdawn.com .
For those of you who want to try a fun pumpkin seed recipe, I have one for you. I got this about ten years ago from Martha Stewart’s website. These seeds are rather sweet and very tasty. The recipe is a little different from Martha’s but you can go on her website if you want the exact recipe.
Ingredients:
5 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamin
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup raw and cleaned pumpkin seeds
Directions:
Cook pumpkin seeds in a 250 degree oven for about one hour or until seeds are dry and crunchy. Combine 3 tablespoons of sugar, salt, cumin, cinnamon, and ginger in a bowl. Heat oil in a large non-stick pan until hot. Add pumpkin seeds and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Cook until sugar melts and seeds begin to carmelize, about 45 to 60 seconds. Transfer seeds to the bowl with the spices and toss to coat. Let cool. Enjoy!
I wanted to wish you and your family a fun and safe Halloween and make sure to visits Nancy’s Ranch and say hi for me!
Hi there,
How do you clean the seeds as I have always thought the goo from the inside flesh adheres to the seeds like bees to honey. I have often thought of just buying raw unsalted pumpkin seeds in the bags but it is pretty expensive to do that. Do you soak them, wash each seed individually, use a vegetable brush?????