Pumpkin Seed Snack Pack

Parched; that's a strange word isn't it? It is a term for dry roasting or toasting. I see a lot of ideas and recipes around for roasting pumpkin seeds. I don't roast them, I parch them in a skillet, just like my mom use to. My grand father grew peanuts on his farm and one way they prepared them to eat was parching them. I have no idea if this is a term used anywhere other than the south, but is a good and easy way to have delicious pumpkin seeds. This is how my mother always prepared peanuts in the shell, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds.

I usually roast my pumpkins whole, (small pie pumpkins will have a nicer seed) then scoop out the seeds. Start with cleaned pumpkin seeds (raw is ok, roasting the pumpkins isn't necessary) and put them into a pot. Add water until it's an inch or so over the top of the seeds. Add salt, 1/2 tablespoon of salt per cup of seeds. Bring to a low boil and simmer for about ten minutes. Drain in a colander then spread on a cookie sheet to dry. Now your seeds will be nicely salted with out all the salt falling off or the use of oils.

The pumpkin seeds are good just like this if you want to stop here, but to complete the parching process place them in a large skillet and slowly toast the seeds stirring occasionally until they just begin to brown. 

Remember the Pumpkin Seed Templates I made a while back? They make good serving size bags for your parched pumpkin seeds. Wouldn't these make fun packets to fill and use? I slide a Pumpkin Seed Packet filled with Parched Pumpkin Seeds into my purse as I head out the door. 

My favorite mix is to add a tablespoon of seeds, a tablespoon of raisins  and a dozen almonds to a packet. Keep in mind that if you roast or parch your seeds using any oil or butter on them, the oils will stain the paper seeds packets. Use waxed paper pocket inserts to keep oils from seeping through the paper.

Click here to print the seed packet on the left, the green one, without the words "Instructions" written at the bottom. 
Click here to print the seed packet on the right, the dusty one, without the words "Instructions" written at the bottom.  
If you like the "Instructions" written at the bottom then go here to see that post and print those packets. 

Have you heard the term 'parching' before?
I link at these parties.
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