Enjoying Halloween with a healthy snack

Every year for halloween I decorate the house with scary stuff and buy a lot of candy for the neighbourhood kids. Its so much fun to look at all their costumes and their smiles, after getting candy. Even though most moms wont agree with me, I enjoy giving them candy. While waiting for the kids to knock, we carve pumpkins and I roast the seeds for healthy snacking later.

Showcasing our carving talents

Pumpkin seeds are healthy as they are filled with fiber, zinc and omega 3 fatty acids. They also help lower cholesterol levels. Remember to wash and strain the pumpkin seeds, as this will help remove the fibrous pumpkin flesh. Also eating the pumpkin seeds with the skin on increases its nutritional value.

Pumpkin seeds washed and cleaned, ready to be munched on

Ingredients:

Cleaned pumpkin seeds
Chilli powder - as needed
Salt - as needed
Garam masala - as needed
Lime juice - a few teaspoons

Method:

Sprinkle the seeds liberally with salt and chilli powder as per taste. Also add a pinch of garam masala. It helps to sprinkle the seeds with masala when the seeds are wet, as the masala sticks to the seeds better. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and distribute the pumpkin seeds evenly. Broil at 500F for a few minutes till it turns golden brown. Remember to toss it few times to allow even cooking. Also keep an eye on it as it can get burnt easily. Remove from oven, sprinkle with lime juice and serve. It can also be stored in an air tight container for a few days.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN