How To Roast Seeds After A Pumpkin Patch Visit In Hamden

HAMDEN, 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 Hamden 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.

Below is a list of some of our favorite pumpkin patches near Hamden:

• Hindinger Farm at 835 Dunbar Hill Rd. in Hamden. Open May 1 through Dec. 20; Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Closed on Mondays. "Since 1893, the Hindinger family has been farming this land in Hamden, Connecticut, and now, the family invites you to share with them this spectacular scenery, friendly atmosphere, and farm-fresh fruits and vegetables," according to their website.>>>Read more here.
• Old Bishop Farm in Cheshire located at 500 South Meriden Road. "Lots of fall related items coming in every day, pumpkins of all varieties and sizes, mums and asters, straw bales, and scarecrows. Donuts, muffins and pies in the bakery. Apple Crumb Pie and Sunflower Chip ice cream, and pumpkin ice cream this weekend!"
• Clover Nook Farm in Bethany located at 50 Fairwood Road. "Come on out to Clover Nook Farm for all your Fall decorations such as pumpkins, gourds, mums, cornstalk bundles, hay bales, and more! We also have free hayrides on weekends and a U-Pick pumpkin patch open every day of the week.".>>>Read more here.
• Drazen Orchards at 251 Wallingford Road in Cheshire.
• Norton Brothers Fruit Farm at 466 Academy Road in Cheshire.

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.