Honey Roasted Pumpkin Seeds are a healthy, naturally sweetened way to enjoy those little gems that you just dug out of your jack-o-lantern.
INGREDIENTS
2 cups raw fresh pumpkin seeds, washed and pumpkin goop picked off
1 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoons olive oil or coconut oil
3 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. If your pumpkin seeds are wet from washing, dry them a bit on a clean dish towel or on paper towels. Place the pumpkin seeds in a medium bowl.
- In a small microwave safe bowl, add the butter, oil or coconut oil, and honey. Microwave until the butter melts and the honey is runny. Pour the honey mixture over the pumpkin seeds and stir. Add the cinnamon and stir again.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper so that the paper hangs over both ends. Dump the pumpkin seeds into the middle of the paper and place it in the oven. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the seeds and honey are a deep golden brown, stirring every 10 minutes.
- When the seeds are roasted, remove from the oven and stir again. Stir a few times as they cool to keep them from sticking in one big lump. Enjoy the seeds once they are cool enough to eat. Store uncovered for up to one week.
- Nuts and seeds, especially when coated with a sugar (in this case honey), tend to burn quickly and easily. Keep a close eye on these. Stir often and if they appear to be getting too brown too fast, turn down the oven temperature a bit.
Honey Watermelon Granita with Honeycomb
INGREDIENTS
1 medium – seedless watermelon
1/2 cup – honey
juice and zest of 4 limes
3″ – square piece of honeycomb, optional
fresh mint and additional lime, to garnish
DIRECTIONS
Cut the melon in half and scoop out the flesh into a blender. Remove any seeds that may be in the watermelon as best you can. Blend the watermelon until pureed, pausing to stir and fully blend as needed.
Add the honey, lime juice and zest and blend until well combined.
Pour the watermelon mixture into a large shallow pan and place in the freezer uncovered.
Wait one hour and with a fork, run the tines through the mixture to break up any ice crystal, return to the freezer and repeat every 30 minutes until fully frozen and icy. This mixture should be icy crystals, not a frozen block and not slushy.
To serve, scoop into shallow glass and garnish with a bit of honeycomb, mint leaves and a lime wedge.
TIP
This recipe can be made into a light watermelon wine granita by adding 12 oz. of moscato or sparkling rose to the mixture before placing in the freezer. This may take additional time in the freezer. You can also add a drizzle of a fruity liqueur such as limoncello or melon liqueur over the granita when serving. This makes a unique and refreshing “after dinner” dessert!