Month: January 2016

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Dry Roasted Pepitas

WIN_20151001_205630Why do so many people stop roasting pumpkin seeds after Halloween? I have no idea. Seeds make a delicious and filling snack throughout the winter! Even better, they’re an excellent source of zinc, vitamin E, and fiber. In order to preserve their nutritional punch, pumpkin seeds or “pepitas” must be cooked quickly. The easiest way to accomplish this is with dry roasting in a saute pan. A saute pan? I suppose that’s cheating a bit, but since it saves time, let’s go for it!

WIN_20151001_130124 - CopyIngredients (Makes about 1 cup)

1 large, speckled pumpkin (look for a striped pumpkin with streaks of green, if you want colorful green seeds)

1/2 teaspoon salt

pinch of sugar

Directions

Step 1) Scoop insides out of pumpkin, saving the pumpkin flesh for other uses!

Step 2) Separate pumpkin seeds (pepitas) and wash WIN_20151001_130208them thoroughly. Pat dry with a clean towel.
Step 3) Place pumpkin seeds in a nonstick saute pan and saute over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue heating and stirring for approximately 5 minutes, until a few seeds begin to turn a golden color and the air is fragrant with the aroma of roasted seeds.

Step 4) Sprinkle pumpkin seeds with salt and sugar. Saute for a few seconds longer, then remove pan from heat. Allow pumpkin seeds to cool in the pan. WIN_20151001_141106Enjoy when cool.

Dry Roasted Pepitas freeze well in an airtight container. To enjoy at a later date, allow the seeds to thaw at room temperature. Then, warm in a saute pan before serving.

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Three Food Resolutions to Consider

Happy New Year from Crowded Earth Kitchen! Let’s kick off 2016 with a few new and improved food habits, shall we? Not only can these three simple changes improve our health, they can help us save a LOT of money. What’s not to love about that?

picture650#1  Less soda pop, more tea. The negative health effects of soft drinks, even diet soft drinks, have been well researched. Also, commercial sodas are expensive! Think of all of those SuperBowl commercials… those advertising dollars have to come from somewhere, right? Let’s give this simple swap a try. Our bodies and our wallets will thank us.

#2  Less drive-thru food, more homemade freezer meals. My weakness is drive-thru burritos, even though I know they are a nutritional nightmare. The wake-up call for me was when I admitted stopping at a drive-thru after pledging a boycott and a friend said, “Of course you’re having trouble stopping – you’re addicted. You’re addicted to the salt, the MSG, and who-knows-what-all in the chemical soup that is Fast Food.” Gross. I know better, and my body deserves better. Time to stock up on home cooked, individually portioned and frozen soups, stromboli, and other meals which thaw and reheat easily.

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Chili freezes and thaws easily!

WIN_20150517_184936#3  Less brown food, more green food. This one is self-explanatory. Most Western diets are higher than they should be in breaded, fried “brown” food, and lacking in fresh, vegetable-based “green” food. Crowded Earth Ktichen is chock full of vegetable-based recipes for on-the-go snacks, simple lunches, family dinners, and a variety of ethnic dishes.

May 2016 bring you good health, and may your kitchen be a place that makes you happy!