Kitchen: Pepitas!!!

Raw pepitas...pumpkin seeds without their seed coat.

 

 

    
     While pumpkin seeds are growing in popularity, I am constantly amazed at how often they are marketed in a roasted, salted, and often "flavored" variety.  The raw seeds have a wonderful "smoky" flavor on their own.  They are often found in granola and granola based bars.  I sprinkle them over salads.  They can be ground and added to breading for meats, especially chicken or deep-fried zucchini or mushrooms.  If you make a chicken breast roll, they can be added whole to your cheesy filling. Try adding them to pancakes, and stuffing.  I add them to a quick canned peach fruit compote, too. 

Why would you want to add these to your diet since these are not a low calorie food?  Generally, one would not eat more than a quarter of a cup at a time--and even then the calories run about 180! 
They are a good source of 

• protein (complete)
• zinc (cellular activity, protein synthesis, DNA synthesis, wound healing, and important in immune function)
• iron (oxygen transport)
• manganese
• copper
• magnesium
• phosphorous
• tryptophan

just to name a few.  At my healthiest point, though not my lowest weight, I was taking a daily lozenge that contained Zinc and Bee Propolis, as well as, Vitamin C.  The company that produced them STOPPED making them.  I also learned that you can build up the zinc, as well as other metals in your system, which I was close to doing.  I believe we are much safer when EATING our nutrients in our foods, rather than from a pill.  A sprinkling of seeds, and handful of nuts here and there will help provide us with many nutrients that may not even be on our "radar" yet. 

Try grinding some raw pepitas and mixing them into some cream cheese...add a few spices (celery seed, cracked pepper, hot sauce?)...and spread on crackers.