Note: On Wednesdays, Andrea Lynn, senior editor of Chile Pepper magazine, drops by with Serious Heat. [flickr: _rockinfree] For the artistic-challenged such as myself, the best thing about carving a Halloween pumpkin isn't the glowing masterpiece that comes at the end--it's the surplus of seeds that come out process. With a shake of seasonings and a quick stint to roast in the oven, there's a delicious, munch-worthy treat. I like a combination of chili powder and paprika to jazz my pumpkin seeds up. But you can use your favorite spices from a Cajun blend to an Indian spin. Check out my recipe for roasted spicy pumpkin seeds » What seasonings do you use?...
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In Singapore, watermelon seed consumption is a predominantly Chinese affair. At wedding ceremonies the seeds are fertility symbols for the couple (representative of their family’s eager wishes), and at traditional Taoist three-day funerals the seeds are everywhere you look. Strangely enough, despite the Chinese love for symbolism there does not seem to be a significance for the watermelon seeds’ ubiquity at funerals. In the past week, I’ve asked all the matriarchs I know as to whether a deeper meaning lies behind it, and I’ve come to a (half-baked) conclusion. But first, a little preamble (bear with me): The Chinese believe that the deceased’s body needs to be watched over at all times—lest a pregnant cat jumps over the coffin,...
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