Dorm dining: toasting your pumpkin seeds in a microwave
Written and photographed by Grace Baines
Now that fall is here, many peoples’ attention has turned to activities such as corn mazes and drinks such as apple cider. I personally found myself missing an old fall favorite from home: toasted pumpkin seeds. It’s been a long tradition in my family that whenever we get around to cleaning out a pumpkin, we toast the pumpkin seeds as a kind of “healthy” option to the pie that soon follows. But dorm life does not exactly allow for oven toasting, and so a microwavable option was born. This recipe can be done with the school-provided microwaves and is only about 20 minutes prep and cook time, making it a perfect snack for after or between classes.
Ingredients and Supplies
– 2 microwavable bowls
– A fork
– 2 tablespoons of butter or margarine
– A cup of fresh pumpkin seeds
– Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
– Rinse the pumpkin seeds and get them clean of any pumpkin guts or goo. Once they’re clean, place them in one of the microwavable bowls to dry. For extra crispy seeds, try letting them dry overnight.
– Put the two tablespoons of butter into the other microwavable bowl. Place the bowl with the butter into the microwave and cook for 30 seconds, or until fully liquid.
– Remove the bowl from the microwave carefully as the bowl may be hot. Now pour the melted butter over the pumpkin seeds and stir so that all of the seeds are completely coated in butter. There should be some extra melted butter at the bottom of the bowl.
– Add salt and pepper to personal preference. I usually use about a tablespoon of salt and a 1/3 tablespoon of pepper, but more or less of either will work, too.
– Now take the coated pumpkin seeds and place them in the microwave. Set the microwave to seven minutes on high and hit start.
– Every minute and a half, open the microwave and use the fork to stir the pumpkin seeds to recoat them with the excess butter. Continue until the full seven minutes are up or they are a golden brown and crunchy.
– When the seeds are golden brown remove from the microwave and spread on paper towels to cool for a few minutes. After they are cool enjoy you festive fall snack!
