We always carve at least one Jack ‘O Lantern in October. The first step is to remove the top and scoop out all of the pulp and seeds from the inside of the pumpkin. We never let the seeds go to waste though. We roast them and eat them instead.

If you want to roast the seeds from your pumpkin, our recipe is below. These never last long in our house.

Roast Pumpkin Seeds Recipe

Ingredients

• One large pumpkin
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt to taste

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
2. Remove the pumpkin seeds from the pumpkin.
3. Separate the pulp from the seeds. Do NOT wash the seeds. (The seeds are good with little bits of pulp still on them, but don’t leave big chunks.) Discard the pulp.
4. Spread the seeds in a 9×13 inch baking pan.
5. Melt the butter and combine with the Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder.
6. Pour the butter mixture over the seeds and stir.
7. Bake the seeds for about 1 hour, until deep brown and crisp. Stir every 15 minutes.
8. Season with salt to taste.

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Trail mix recipes are abundant. Basically, anything which holds up well in a ziploc bag can be used. I always enjoy seeing different combintations to get new ideas. This recipe is for the sunflower seed enthusiasts.

If you are using the Cub Scout Planting Seeds of Kindness program theme, mix up some of this “seed based” trail mix as a pack or den activity.

Sunflower Seed Trail Mix

Ingredients

• 1 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup M&Ms
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1 cup raisins
• 2 cups pretzels

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients together.
2. Package in two or three ziploc bags.

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting

Sports drinks like Gatorade or Power Aid are designed to replenish the water and salt your body loses when you are active or exercising. You can mix up your own powdered mix to accomplish this for a fraction of the cost of purchasing these drinks by the bottle.

The sugar and flavoring  in this mix break the monotony of drinking plain water and might encourage you to drink more. The salt helps prevent low blood sodium. Don’t increase the proportions of sugar and salt in the recipe though. Too much sugar and salt will slow the absorption of the water and will put an additional load on your system.

Powdered Sports Drink

Ingredients

• 9 tablespoons table sugar
• 3/8 teaspoon table salt
•  1 packet unsweetened Kool Aid

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients thouroughly
2. Divide the mixture into each of three Ziploc bags.
3. When ready to use, add contents of one bag to a 20 ounce bottle.
4. Fill about halfway with water.
5. Close tightly and shake until well to mix.
6. Fill the bottle the rest of the way up with water  or with water and two or three ice cubes and shake again. (The ice should melt.)

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting

This month I am featuring a cycling theme. And you know if you go out cycling, you are going to need some energy. There are lots of recipes for energy bars out there, but most include peanuts.

DS’s den had a scout with peanut allergies, so I always had to find peanut free recipes. This is an easy “energy bar” recipe you can use. If you don’t have any nut allergies, you can include peanut butter or nuts as an optional ingredient.

Note: Sunflower seeds can be a problem for a subset of people with nut allergies, so if you are not sure, ask before you use them.

Homemade Energy Bars Recipe (Peanut Free)

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup flour (can use whole wheat for half)
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 cup quick cooking oats
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds

Optional Ingredients

• 1/2 cup peanut butter (if no allergies)
• 1/4 cup nuts (if no allergies)
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1/2 cup coconut
• 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries

Instructions

1. Combine flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, butter, vanilla,  and egg.
2. Beat until well blended.
3. Stir in oats.
4. Add one or two of the optional ingredients if desired.
5. Press dough into a greased 13 x 9 inch pan.
6. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and sunflower seeds.
7. Bake at 375 for 15 to 20 minutes.
8. Cut into bars.

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting

When it comes to trail mixes, everyone has a favorite recipe. The combinations are endless. So today I am sharing my favorite trail mix recipe.

What’s in your day pack?

Scouter Mom’s Favorite Trail Mix

Ingredients

• ¼ cup cheerios
• ¼ cup small pretzels
• ¼ cup cashew nuts
• ¼ cup granola
• ¼ cup dried cherries
• ¼ cup M&Ms

Directions

1. Mix all together.
2. Package in ½ cup servings in small bags or containers.

Makes 3 servings.

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting

Here is a fun recipe for all of that Halloween candy corn.

You could count this for Bear requirement 9b: With an adult, make snacks for the next den meeting. It isn’t the healthiest thing in the world, but it probably a little better than the bags of chips or ding-dongs the parents used to send for our den when we had our meetings right after school. At least the peanuts have a little nutritional value.

Trick or treat!

Candy Corn Mix

Equipment:

• Measuring cup
• Bowl

Equipment:

• 1 cup candy corn
• 1 cup peanuts
• 1 cup M &Ms

Directions

1. Mix all three ingredients together
2. Enjoy!

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting