Now if cooking your pumpkin is something you’re into (nice segue hey?), there are countless ways for you to incorporate pumpkin into recipes for all members of your family (even the furry ones!). If you have already planned to carve your pumpkin, you can still create a snack out of the seeds. Pumpkin seeds are quite healthy and contain important vitamins and minerals like magnesium, vitamin K, iron, calcium, and potassium. They’re also great sources of protein, unsaturated fats like omega-6 fatty acids, and zinc which helps boost our immune systems. One of the easiest ways to prepare the seeds is to roast them. Once you’ve scooped the seeds our of your pumpkin, remove all the pumpkin slimy bits from the seeds and place them in a colander and rinse. Pat them dry with paper towel as the more moisture you leave behind the more likely it will create steam in the oven and prevent crisping and can also make it harder for your seasonings to adhere. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees (F) and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
Mix your rinsed and dried seeds in a mixing bowl with your choice of oil or melted butter along with whichever seasonings you decide. Some seasoning options include something as simple as salt, or seasoning salt, or dried herbs or even taco seasoning. If you’re looking for something on the sweeter side, try some sugar and cinnamon with a little vanilla. Lay your seeds evenly on the baking sheet and roast them in the oven for 45 minutes, then increase the temperature to 325 for another five minutes. Remove them from the oven, let them cool and enjoy (any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container).
We all deserve to indulge in pumpkin treats, from pie to scones, to ravioli to risotto, there is a pumpkin dish for everyone’s palette. But what about our four-legged best friends? Did you know that dogs love pumpkin too and not only that but it is good for our furry buddies as well! The flesh of the pumpkin is high in soluble fibre and can help feed beneficial gut bacteria, it even contains an amino acid that will paralyze and eliminate parasites from your dog’s digestive tract. Pumpkin can also be a great relief to any dog suffering from diarrhea and constipation. Dog’s often love pumpkin plain or mixed with a bit of their food for an easy treat. You can also incorporate pumpkin into your own homemade dog treats. An easy and yummy recipe for pumpkin dog treats found here courtesey of Food With Feeling’s page: https://foodwithfeeling.com/healthy-pumpkin-dog-treats/
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