How To Roast Seeds After A Pumpkin Patch Visit Near Stratford

STRATFORD, 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 Stratford 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 Stratford:

• Filanowski Farms, 389 Wheelers Farms Road, Milford. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. "Our pumpkin patch is bountiful from the harvest and ready for your pickin's."
• Robert Treat Farm, 1339 New Haven Ave., Milford. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
• Plasko's Farm, 670 Daniels Farm Road, Trumbull. Open Monday through Friday, noon to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. "Fall is one of our favorite seasons! Whether you are looking for a pumpkin to carve, decorate, or eat, you will find what you are looking for at Plasko's. The farm also fully stocks a variety of squash, gourds, Indian corn, cornstalks and many more fall decorative accessories."
• Jones Family Farms, 606 Walnut Tree Hill Road, Shelton. Weekend pumpkin picking starts Sept. 26; reservations required. Weekday visits start Sept. 28; reservations required.

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.