Pumpkin Sprouts
by Rachel Paxton - rachel@creativehomemaking.com

Everyone knows you can toast and eat pumpkin seeds, but did you know you can also sprout them?  First soak them by placing them in a glass jar with just enough tepid water to cover them.  Cover the jar with cheesecloth, holding the cheesecloth in place with a rubberband at the neck of the jar.  Let the seeds set in the water overnight to make sure they're nice and soft.  The next morning, drain the water from the jar by gently turning the jar upside down until all of the moisture is gone.  Place the jar out of the light (in a closet or cabinet).  The temperature should remain at about 70 degrees.  Rinse the seeds in the jar 4 to 6 times a day.  After 3 days you should have approximately 1/4-inch sprouts.  Rinse them once more and set the jar in a sunny window for about a day until the sprouts grow tiny leaves.  Eat them in salads, sandwiches, or add them to soups and casseroles.  They're very healthy and easy to make!

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For recipes, tips to organize your home, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.