Pumpkin pleasures! Use seeds for savory, sweet treats

'Top Chef' judge Gail Simmons' recipes for roasted pumpkin seeds, scones

Video: Save your pumpkin seeds to make easy, tasty snacks

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>>> if there's one thing most of you have in your homes this halloween morning it's pumpkins, and their seeds can make for quick and very easy snacks. gail simmons from "food & wine" magazine and braffa's " top chef " is here to show us how it's done. happy halloween .

>> thanks for having me.

>> a lot of people throw the seeds out. i think the pumpkin seeds are the best part, i love them and so many ways to use them and cook with them. if you have an oven you can use this halloween , i say save your pumpkin seeds .

>> what they look like in the pumpkin.

>> exactly.

>> here's the seed inside the seed.

>> these are hulled pumpkin seeds raw and these are toasted. i'll show you how to taest them.

>> these are good plain.

>> put them on salads, toss them with other nuts. i've toesed them in a little bit of oil and put some cinnamon and sugar into them.

>> making a sweet version of toasted pumpkin seeds .

>> and later on i'll show you how to make a salty persian.

>> this i'll use in a pumpkin seed and chocolate chip scone.

>> because you put oil on them you don't have to put anything on the tray.

>> they come out like that.

>> boy, they shrink a lot.

>> shrink a little bit and also get nice and brown and toasty, so you hold these for me.

>> dump them in there. i have a little bit of sugar, flour, baking, sugar, salt, i'm going to put my butter in, and then i'll use my fingers, don't be shy here, and you're going to course it out like this, and it becomes a really course meal. looks like this right here, and now toss those seeds right in there, okay, great, and with them i'll add some chocolate chips .

>> what kind of pumpkin seeds are those?

>> my favorite.

>> i'll make them all and then i'll mixed it with whipped eggs, buttermilk and vanilla. comes together in a beautiful dough.

>> a pasty dough. what's the consistency you're looking for?

>> very sticky and when you mix it up it should come together easily and once it's around i'll roll it out on to my tray.

>> is it really that simple or you have to work that further?

>> you don't actually. can work it together with your hands once you roll it out on to the dough, and then what i'm going to do is bring it all together like this, into a round, very, very simple.

>> that is a big scone.

>> this is one giant scone.

>> if i cut it into wedges, you can just cut it into wedges like this, and then you're going to take each one.

>> you really want it that lose.

>> you can mix it a little bit more, but we're on a deadline here.

>> fine.

>> and then brush it with a bill bit of buttermilk. there's buttermilk in the recipe as well. i'll sprinkle them with a beautiful coarse sugar and more of the cinnamon toasted pumpkin seeds and i'll take each one and put them on my tray, bake them at 400 and they come out beautiful, shiny and delicious.

>> those are beautiful.

>> have one.

>> please.

>> made a version of the pumpkin seeds . instead of with sugar and cinnamon, use salt and cayenne version. i love those as well. these are great on salad, tossing with mixed nuts . like to eat them plain and there's a great way to use up your pumpkin seeds .

>> i'm not the biggest fan of scones, these are really good.

>> chocolate is good, pumpkin seeds fun and nutty.

>> and you didn't spill anything on yourself. these are pretty good.

>> gail simmons , thanks very

much: the tenth season of " top chef " premeals thursday on our sister network bravo but first,

>>

Show transcript

TODAY recipes

updated 10/31/2012 9:25:40 AM ET

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No need to throw away the pumpkin seeds after making your Jack-o'-Lanterns. Gail Simmons, from Food and Wine Magazine and Bravo's "Top Chef," has two easy recipes for seasonal treats.

Recipe: Roasted pumpkin seeds, savory and sweet (on this page) Recipe: Chocolate chip scones with cinnamon-toasted pumpkin seeds (on this page)

Recipe: Roasted pumpkin seeds, savory and sweet

Gail Simmons

Ingredients

1.33 cups pumpkin seeds
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon sugar
1.5 tablespoon olive oil
Cayenne or cinnamon to taste
Salt or sugar to taste

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Clean and dry the seeds, removing all pulp. Toss them in olive oil, cayenne and salt.

Spread them on a sheet pan in a single layer. Roast them in an oven for 15 to 20 minutes until they're crispy and golden.

For a savory version of the same snack, substitute salt for sugar and cayenne for cinnamon.

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Recipe: Chocolate chip scones with cinnamon-toasted pumpkin seeds

Gail Simmons

Ingredients

6 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces, plus more for the pan
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour plus more for pan and rolling
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup toasted cinnamon sugar pumpkin seeds
3/4 cup chilled buttermilk plus extra for brushing scones
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Demerara sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a baking sheet with butter and dust with flour, shaking off excess.

In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add butter; rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Mix in chocolate chips and cinnamon-sugar roasted pumpkin seeds.

In a medium bowl, stir together 3/4 cup buttermilk, egg yolk and vanilla; whisk to combine. Add buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients; stir until combined — the dough will be sticky.

Using floured hands, turn out dough onto a floured work surface, form into a 7- to 8-inch round, and cut into eight wedges. Use a small spatula or the side of your knife to transfer wedges to prepared baking sheet, spacing 1 inch apart. It's OK if wedges aren't perfectly shaped.

Brush scones lightly with buttermilk and sprinkle with Demerara sugar. Bake until scones are golden and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, which takes about 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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