Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds
1. Rinse pumpkin seeds under cold water and pick out the pulp and strings. (This is easiest just after you've removed the seeds from the pumpkin, before the pulp has dried.)

2. Place the pumpkin seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet, stirring to coat. If you prefer, omit the oil and coat with non-stick cooking spray.

3. Sprinkle with salt and bake at 325 degrees F until toasted, about 25 minutes, checking and stirring after 10 minutes.

4. Let cool and store in an air-tight container.

JUST WANTED TO ADD THIS STORY I READ

Why Carve Pumpkins?

The story of the Jack o'Lantern comes from Irish folklore.

Jack was a crafty farmer who tricked the Devil into climbing a tall tree. When the Devil reached the highest branch, Jack carved a large cross in the trunk, making it impossible for the Devil to climb down. In exchange for help getting out of the tree, the Devil promised never to tempt Jack with evil again. When Jack died, he was turned away from Heaven for his sins and turned away from Hell because of his trickery. Condemned to wander the earth without rest, Jack carved out one of his turnips, took an ember from the devil, and used it for a lantern to light his way. He became known as "Jack of the Lantern."

Sweet Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients
1 cup raw cleaned whole pumpkin seeds
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon white sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
Place the pumpkin seeds on a cookie sheet, and spread them out into a single layer. Roast until brown and crisp, about 45 minutes. Set the seeds aside in a large bowl.
Place the cinnamon, chili powder, and 1 teaspoon of sugar in a bowl, and set aside.
Place olive oil and 1 tablespoon of sugar in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, and heat and stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar turns a light golden brown color. Watch it carefully to avoid burning.
Pour the caramelized sugar mixture over the roasted pumpkin seeds, and stir to coat. Pour the cinnamon-chili powder mixture over the seeds, and toss to coat the seeds with the spices.

Caramelized Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients
3 tablespoons white sugar
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds, washed and dried
cooking spray
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons white sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, stir together 3 tablespoons of sugar, the cumin, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne pepper, and set aside.
Place the pumpkin seeds on the prepared baking sheet, spray them with cooking spray, and sprinkle with salt to taste. Bake the seeds in the preheated oven until lightly golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, and stir in the toasted pumpkin seeds along with 2 tablespoons of sugar. Cook and stir the seeds until the sugar forms a coating on the seeds, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir the caramelized seeds into the bowl of sugar-spice mixture, toss to coat, and let cool.

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Quiche

Ingredients

2 (12 ounce) packages frozen hash brown potatoes
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup cooked diced ham
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Squeeze any excess moisture from the potatoes and combine them with the melted butter or margarine in a small bowl. Press this mixture into the bottom and sides of an ungreased 10 inch pie pan.
Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 25 minutes.
Remove pan from oven and arrange the ham and cheese evenly over the potatoes. In a separate small bowl, beat together the eggs and the cream. Pour this over the ham and cheese.
Return pan to oven and bake for 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 30 minutes, or until the custard has completely set.

I have started making different Quiche in muffin tins. (and different cassrole breakfast dishes, too!)
Great for for quick and easy morning breakfast~at anytime. And the individual muffin size is perfect!

French Toast

French Toast

Ingredients
2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1/2 cup butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 (1 pound) loaf unsliced white bread, with crust trimmed

5 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions

Combine light corn syrup, butter and sugar in saucepan; simmer until syrup-like. Pour mixture over the bottom of a 9"x 13" pan.
Slice bread into 12-16 slices; place over the syrup. Layer as needed.
Beat together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and salt. Pour over bread. Cover with saran wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
Bake in a preheated oven 350 degree F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes.
Cut into squares. Invert and serve.

I got this at ALLRECIPES.COM

Crock Pot Split Pea Soup

1 pkg. dried green split peas, rinsed (16 oz.)
1 hambone, or 2 meaty hamhocks, or 2 cups diced ham
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 med. onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, plus leaves, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced (may use more to taste)
1 bay leaf
1/4 c. fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
1 tbsp. seasoned salt (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1 1/2 qts. hot water

Layer ingredients in crock pot, pour in water. DO NOT STIR. Cover and cook on high 4 to 5 hours or on low 8 to 10 hours until peas are very soft and ham falls off bone. Remove bones and bay leaf.

Ham and Bean Soup

1/2 c. dry navy beans or great northern beans
1/2 c. dry black beans or kidney beans
1/2 c. dry lima beans
1/2 c. dry garbanzo beans
1/2 c. dry split peas
2 c. fully cooked ham cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 lg. onion, chopped (1 cup)
2 med. carrots, chopped (1 cup)
1 tsp. dried basil, crushed
1 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 bay leaves

Rinse beans; drain. Combine the beans, peas, and 6 cups cold water in a large saucepan. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes. Drain and rinse beans.

Meanwhile, combine ham, onion, carrots, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, and bay leaves in a 31/2 to 4-quart Crockery Pot. Stir in drained beans and 6 cups fresh water.

cover; cook on lot for 8 to 10 hours. (Or, cook on high for 4 to 5 hours). Discard the bay leaves. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Makes 8 servings

Chicken Breasts Supreme

2 slices bacon
6 chicken breast halves
4 1/2 oz. sliced mushrooms, drained
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 tbsp. dry sherry, if desired
3 oz. Swiss cheese, sliced
1 tbsp. chopped chives
3 cups frozen broccoli flowerets

Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet; drain on paper towels. Reserve bacon drippings in skillet. Add chicken to bacon drippings in skillet; cook over medium-high heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned, turning once. Transfer chicken to 4 to 6 quart slow cooker. Top with mushrooms. In same skillet, stir together soup and sherry. Spoon over mushrooms. Cover; cook on low for 3 to 4 hours.
Top mixture in slow cooker with cheese slices. Sprinkle with chives. Crumble bacon over cheese. Cover; cook on high setting for an additional 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Meanwhile, microwave broccoli in covered microwave-safe dish on HIGH for 6 to 8 minutes or until crisp-tender. Arrange chicken, broccoli and mushrooms on serving platter. Serve with cooking juices.

Slow Cooker Lasagna

1 lb. ground beef
1 lg. onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can tomato sauce (29 oz.)
1 c. water
1 can tomato paste (6 oz.)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 pkg. no-cook lasagna noodles (8 oz.)
4 c. shredded mozzarella cheese (16 oz.)
11/2 c. small-curd cottage cheese (12 oz.)
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

In a skillet, cook beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the tomato sauce, water, tomato paste, salt and oregano; mix well. Spread a fourth of the meat sauce in an ungreased 5-quart slow cooker. Arrange a third of the noodles over sauce (break the noodles if necessary). Combine the cheeses; spoon a third of the mixture over noodles. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining meat sauce. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until noodles are tender.

Crockery Pot Meatballs

These meatballs are good served over egg noodles.
1 1/2 lbs. extra-lean ground beef
1 c. dry breadcrumbs
1/2 c. egg substitute
1/3 c. chopped fresh parsley
2 tbsp. minced fresh onion
1/3 c. ketchup
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 can jellied cranberry sauce (16 oz.)
1 bottle chili sauce (12 oz.)
Parsley sprigs (optional)

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; shape mixture into 30 (1 1/2 inch) meatballs.
Combine ketchup, sugar, juice, and sauces in a Crockery Pot; gently stir in meatballs. cover with lid; cook on low for 8 to 10 hours. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

Savory Pepper Steak

1 1/2 - 2 lbs. beef round steak, about 1/2-inch thick
1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 med. onion, chopped
2 lg. green or red peppers, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch strips
sm. clove garlic, minced
1 can whole tomatoes (16 oz.)
1 tbsp. beef flavor base (paste or granules)
1 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
fluffy rice

Cut steak into strips. Combine1/4 cup flour, the salt and pepper; toss with steak strips to coat thoroughly. Add to Crock-Pot with onion, garlic and half of green pepper strips; stir. Combine tomatoes with beef base, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Pour into Crock-Pot, moistening meat well. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
One hour before serving, turn on High and stir in remaining green pepper strips.
If thickened gravy is desired, make a smooth paste of 3 tablespoons flour and 3 tablespoons water; stir into Crock-pot. Cover and cook until thickened. Serve gravy with Pepper Steak over hot fluffy rice.
Serves 4

Cheesy Meat Loaf

17 round cheese crackers
1 sm. onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp. green pepper, minced
1/4 c. chili sauce
1/2 c. milk
2 eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
11/2 lb. lean ground beef

Crush crackers with rolling pin or blender until crumbled. In mixing bowl, combine crumbs with onion, green pepper, chili sauce, milk, eggs, salt, and pepper. Mix in ground beef. Form into 6 or 7 inch round loaf. Place in slow-cooking pot. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or until done.

Halloween Appetizers

cheese finger food

Mozzarella string cheese
Green bell pepper
Cream cheese
Wearing plastic gloves or sandwich bags over your hands to keep the cheese as smudge-free as possible, use a paring knife (parents only) to cut each string in half and then carve a shallow area for a fingernail just below the rounded end of each half.
Mark the joint right below the nail as well as the knuckle joint by carving out tiny horizontal wedges of cheese, as pictured.
For the fingernails, slice a green bell pepper into 3/8-inch-wide strips. Set the strips skin side down on your work surface and trim the pulp so that it's about half as thick. Then cut the strips into ragged-topped nail shapes and stick them in place at the ends of the fingers with dabs of cream cheese.

apple bites

Ingredients
Apples
Slivered almonds

Instructions
Just quarter and core an apple, cut a wedge from the skin side of each quarter, then press slivered almonds in place for teeth.
Tips:
If you're not going to serve them right away, baste the apples with orange juice to keep them from browning.

carrot finger food

vegetable dip
4 long carrots
1 medium carrot
softened cream cheese
sliced-almond
baby carrots

To prepare them, just fill a serving bowl with your favorite vegetable dip. Wash and peel 4 long carrots for fingers and 1 medium carrot for a thumb.
With a paring knife (a parent's job), cut a flat, shallow notch in the tip of each carrot. Then use a dab of dip or softened cream cheese to glue a sliced-almond fingernail atop each notch.
Stick the fingers in the dip, as shown, and serve with plenty of peeled baby carrots for dipping.

Edible Eyeballs

Carrots
Cream cheese
Pitted black olives

Instructions
Simply slice carrots into 1-inch-thick chunks, top each with a blob of cream cheese and one half of a pitted black olive, and serve