How To Roast Seeds After A Pumpkin Patch Visit In East Haven

EAST HAVEN, CT — The holidays, including Halloween, will look very different this year thanks to the coronavirus. However, some quintessential fall activities such as visiting pumpkin patches near East Haven and carving jack-o’-lanterns will stay the same.

In 2020, more people are cooking at home and trying to maximize every penny spent. Here’s a simple way to keep that up: Don’t toss out those pumpkin seeds. Instead, turn them into a delicious snack.

First, pick up a pumpkin from the local pumpkin patch.

• Shore Line Trolley Museum Pumpkin Patch in East Haven. "We're happy to welcome you back!" This year, The Shore Line Trolley Museum will be following Covid-19 protocols. We'll be offering rides every hour to the Pumpkin Patch. Kids can still pick their own sugar pumpkin at our outdoor patch. Take a self-guided tour of our decorated trolley barns. Each child receives a take-away puzzle book. The Patch is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from Oct. 3 through Nov. 1. Limit 25 per hour, tickets are available online. Your admission includes a trolley ride, grounds visit, one pumpkin and puzzle book for each child. Please read our Covid-19 protocols below. Groups of 10 or more can request their own special weekday visit! Please contact the museum at reservations@shorelinetrolley.org or call 203-467-6927 for special times and rates. 17 River St, East Haven, CT 06512. Phone: 203-467-6927. Email: office@shorelinetrolley.com.
• Bishop's Orchards - The Little Red Barn and Pumpkin Patch in Guilford is open now through Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Admission is free. Fall Family Fun is here at the Bishop's Orchards Little Red Barn, so come to our Pumpkin Patch. Inside the Little Red Barn you will find fall seasonal decorations as well as perishable items. Due to COVID-19, our Fall into Fun Kid's Activities are limited to just the Apple Train. Cost is $2/person (tax included) and the train runs on weekends and holidays only. 1355 Boston Post Road, Guilford. 203-453-3328.
• Rose Orchards in North Branford. The pumpkin patch is open every day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. though the end of October. The farm has pick-your-own apples, the pumpkin patch, straw or hay bale maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides, prepicked produce, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, and farm animals. 33 Route 139, 33 Branford Rd North Branford, CT 06471. Phone: 203-488-7996.

Now, the seed roasting part

After you gut the pumpkin for carving, keep the seeds in a bag until you are ready to roast them. Pumpkin seeds are loaded with potassium, packed with fiber and protein, and are the perfect snack to serve your little ghosts and goblins.

Here’s our favorite recipe for baking seeds:

Separate the seeds in a bowl as you clean each pumpkin. Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Rinse the seeds in cold water and strain. Pat seeds dry with a paper towel. In a bowl, toss the seeds in just enough olive oil to coat.

Spray an edged baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and spread seeds in a single layer. Season seeds with kosher salt to taste. Bake for 30-40 minutes.

Let cool and enjoy. Seal leftovers in an airtight plastic container.

Ingredients:

• Pumpkin seeds
• Olive oil
• Sea salt

Make Your Jack-O’-Lanterns Last

When you carve that perfect pumpkin, you can plan on it lasting up to 10 days before it starts to show signs of aging. However, if you want to make it last longer, you can mix three teaspoons of bleach with 3 gallons of water and spray the solution throughout, according to Clorox.