The pumpkins that are the best for carving are not the best pumpkins for eating. They tend to be water, string and rather flavorless, as they are bred to be large and light, with the maximum surface area for carving and the minimum amount of "goop" (as termed by a very young neighbor) inside. All too often pumpkin seeds get tossed out with the rest of the pumpkin innards when a jack o' lantern is being carved out for Halloween and although the rest of the pumpkin isn't that appetizing, the seeds can be a tasty treat.

Pumpkin seeds need to be washed and dried before you start to work with them. Once they are clean, they can be prepared in one of two ways. The first method comes from Simply Recipes and involves boiling the seeds briefly in salted water before toasting them. The second method is much like the one used for the candied pecans I made last week, where the seeds are mixed with egg white and spices before being baked at 375F for about 12 minutes. This is the method used by Heidi at 101 Cookbooks and she provides three different spicing combinations to get you started, although you can use any sweet or spicy combination that strikes your fancy.

Raw nuts make a tasty and satisfying snack. They are a little on the bland side, so it is not hard to stick with the recommended daily serving of a dozen or so nuts. Roasting and salting the nuts really increases their appeal, and you'll probably find yourself eating at least a handful or two before trying to find something to wash them down with. Adding sugar to the roasted, salted nuts makes them dangerously addictive.

Fortunately, candied nuts are also very easy to make. All you need to do is toss the nuts in some egg white and coat with a generous amount of sugar and spices. For this recipe, I used cinnamon and allspice, which combine with the flavor of the pecan to produce a result that tastes exactly of fall and the holiday season. In fact, a batch of these nuts would make a wonderful gift for family or friends, though you'll want to make two so you can keep some for yourself.

Read on for the recipe: