Are you making a pumpkin pie from scratch this Thanksgiving? Don’t throw out the best part!

I’m talking about the seeds, of course!

After you wash and cut open the pumpkin, scoop out the pulp and seeds. Place them in a big bowl and then call one of the little kids into the kitchen. Tell them their job is to remove the seeds from the “slime” (use that word, they’ll think it’s cool). Have your helper drop the seeds into a separate bowl.

After the seeds and pulp have been separated, rinse the seeds in a colander and then lay them out on paper towels to air dry. Put them in a re-sealable plastic bag until you’re ready to use them (they’ll hold for about a week).

There are so many ways to roast pumpkin seeds. Here’s my recipe for how to make Candied Pumpkin Seeds, which are great to snack on, top a salad or sprinkle in your oatmeal. They also make sweet little hostess gifts!

I made these very Spice Island spicy, not hot spicy. Click here to read more and to get the recipe!

My true love had a bunch of returns to make at the mall, so I decided to spread the holiday spirit and bake Calling Birds Cookies (or Colly Birds if you want to get technical).

The twins next door are ill and can’t play in the newly fallen snow, so I made them each a little “care package” of Four Calling Birds Cookies and threw in some frosting and sprinkles for decorating.

Confession: I used a package mix.

Mama tries to make the week between Christmas and New Years as simple as possible. And baking these cookies was pretty simple.

I mean, after all, I’ve gotta rest up for New Year’s Eve!

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