Pati's way thru life: Happy Halloween!

                                             Today is Halloween.....
                                        I did some Trick or Treating at work today,
                        dressed up as a casual witch handing out candy to my accounts
as soon as I got home first thing was first ......
                                                      I have to carve my pumpkin !

No fancy work here ....
I went with the basic pumpkin carving design ....

My making of "Jack- O'- Lantern"

I add cinnamon sticks inside the pumpkin to make it smell good
and I read that it keeps the bugs away !

Jack is ready for a Spooktactular evening !

Every year I enjoy putting up Halloween Decorations .....
Here are a few pics.....

Love my Halloween Table-scape.

Purple & Orange Plates & Bowls .

Green Goblets from Pier 1

To match with my centerpiece of Spiders ....

From Pier 1 also including the candy corn candle votives.
(Can you tell I like that store ?)

Every year I make a Special treat for my Neighbor's son -Brody.
He tells me every Halloween that he loves my Halloween decorations !

             While I was handing out treats I decided to roast my pumpkin seeds .....
                      You can add any type of seasoning to the seeds for example :
                                                                 (Sky the limit)

Seasoned Salt
Old Bay Seasoning
Jerk Seasoning
Creole Seasoning
Cayenne Pepper Seasoning
Coriander Seasoning
Barbecue
Pumpkin -Pie Spice
Cinnamon Sugar
Curry Seasoning

I decided to just go with Salt & Pepper .

Washing the pumpkin seeds!

Scattering the pumpkin seeds to dry ....

Ready to roast ....

My husband helped with adding the pepper

While I add in the salt . I started using Himala Salt because of the benefits .
HimalaSalt states that this brand is the ONLY pink Himalayan sea salt that is Kosher Passover Certified, Green-e Certified.

Himalayan Crystal Salt is a premium natural salt that helps regulate your body's blood sugar, water, and PH levels, and promote respiratory and vascular health.

Shake ....Shake .....Shake

Roast for 10 minutes and toss seeds around
and place back in the oven for another 10 minute .

Nice and roasted ....

Ready to snack on .......Yum!

Health benefits of pumpkin seeds

They are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and numerous health promoting antioxidants.
Excellent source of amino acid tryptophan and glutamate. Tryptophan is converted into serotonin and niacin. Serotonin is a beneficial neuro-chemical often labeled as nature's sleeping pill. Further, tryptophan is a precursor of B-complex vitamin, niacin (60 mg of tryptophan = 1mg niacin).
Glutamate is required in the synthesis of γ-amino butyric acid (GABA). GABA, an anti-stress neurochemical in the brain, helps reducing anxiety, nervous irritability, and other neurotic conditions.
A very good source of anti-oxidant vitamin E which it helps maintain the integrity of mucus membranes and skin by protecting from harmful oxygen-free radicals.
Excellent source of B-complex group of vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) and folates. These vitamins work as co-factors for various enzymes during cellular substrate metabolism in the human body. In addition, niacin helps to reduce LDL-cholesterol levels in the blood. Along with glutamate, it enhances GABA activity inside the brain, which in turn reduces anxiety and neurosis.
Contains very good levels of essential minerals like copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium. They are very rich in manganese (provide 4543 mg per 100 g, about 198% of daily-recommended intake). Manganese is an all-important co-factor for antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. It is therefore, consumption of pumpkin kernels helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals.