One of my favorite Halloween-time snacks has always been toasted pumpkin seeds.

While the kids are scooping out the pumpkin, have them place the seeds into a large collander. This “duty” always falls to me.. the kids think it sounds fun, but a few minutes into it, I get to finish the chore… fun, fun!

Clean off most of the pumpkin pulp. Use your own judgement on this one. Personally, I love some of the pumpkin pulp baked with the seeds – yummy!

Rinse the seeds until mostly cleaned off.

Spread seeds on paper towels to dry them.

Use about 3 TBSP of melted butter drizzled over seeds and sprinkle with salt.

Bake in oven at 300 degrees for about 45 minutes.

Other spices and flavors to use:
2 tsp Worcesteshire sauce
1/8 tsp garlic powder
A packet of ranch dressing powder
cayenne powder
cheese powder
cinnamon

The possiblities are endless!

Only 7 days to Win a FREE Dremel Pumpkin Carving Tool!

I was at one of the big box home improvement stores a few weeks ago and saw what I thought was one of the coolest pumpkin carving kits – made by dremel, a tool to carve your pumpkins.

So, here you go, I’m giving it away. I will definitely have to get another one, as I think these are just too cool!

The kit allows carvers to quickly create intricate designs, such as a haunted house or a pirate, on the surface of a pumpkin after it has been cut open and cleaned out, giving the gourd a sophisticated, iridescent appearance compared to jack-o-lanterns of the past.

Creating a spectacularly sculpted pumpkin with the Dremel Pumpkin Carving Kit is fast and easy. The kit’s 6-Volt Dremel Alkaline Cordless rotary tool features two speeds – 7,000 and 14,000 rotations per minute – to aid carvers with varying levels of experience. The lowest speed, 7,000 rpm, is the most manageable for beginners and is ideal for providing control over small and intricate designs. As carvers become more experienced, they can speed up their cutting process by switching to 14,000 rpm.

The tool’s compact size, light weight and cordless power make it easy for carvers to maneuver for intricate carving. Alkaline battery power from four AA batteries eliminates the need for a battery charger.

Also included in the kit are 10 spooky carving templates, such as a witch, ghost and skeleton, that range in levels of difficulty. By affixing the template to a pumpkin, carving becomes as easy as tracing a drawing.

The Dremel Pumpkin Carving Kit can also be used to create fun, fall decorations by carving designs in gourds, miniature pumpkins or fake pumpkins. Because the kit contains a sharp object, children are encouraged to use only with adult supervision.

Additional templates can be downloaded from the carving templates page on the Dremel Web site, or carvers can easily make their own by printing a black and white image.

Want to win this handy dandy halloweeny tool? Comment here, on this post (this is the only post that counts for the giveaway). Contest ends September 30th 2008. Winner will be chosen randomly on October 1st 2008. Halloween is just around the corner – so you must respond within 24 hours or another winner will be chosen. See Contest Guidelines for all the small print.

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