Perfect Pumpkin Seeds

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Today, I visited the local farm and they were giving away free pumpkins, I decided I would get a pumpkin and see how I could use it. I thought about making pumpkin soup or pumpkin bread but I decided just to use the seeds to see what they were like. Pumpkin seeds are so good for you, they have a few health benefits they help reduce inflammation for arthritis, they promote good sleep, they are filled with minerals and are high in zinc. 100g of pumpkin seeds include 30g of protein.

Ingredients:

-The seeds out of 1 pumpkin

-1/2 tablespoon olive oil

-1/4 teaspoon salt

-1/4 teaspoon pepper

-1/4 teaspoon paprika

-1/4 teaspoon crushed chilli's

-1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

- Dash of salt

step 1:

Preheat the oven to 200 c.

step 2:

Cut the top off the pumpkin and scrape out the insides. You can use a metal spoon or a pumpkin scoop. Get rid of any unwanted pumpkin seeds or pumpkin rind. Wash the seeds in a colander, ensuring they are clean.

step 3:

Soak the seeds in a bowl of water for 20 minutes. Once you have done this drain the seeds.

step 4:

Fill a pan with enough water to cover the seeds and add a dash of salt. Bring the water to boil and place the seeds in the water. Boil gently for around 10 minutes.

step 5:

Turn off the heat, drain the seeds and then put them back in the bowl drizzle with olive oil and toss them.

step 5:

Put grease proof paper on a baking tray and place the seeds in a thin layer. Sprinkle the seeds with the paprika, cinnamon, crushed chilli's, salt and pepper. Place in the oven. Keep checking the seeds every 10 minutes, shaking and moving them to ensure they cook evenly. After about 25/35 minutes they should be done or when they become firm and no longer soft, ideally you want them to be a dark yellow colour.

step 6:

When cooked remove from the oven and allow to cool. Once they are cooled place in a air tight container. ENJOY!