Post by Karen R Quinn on Aug 15, 2009 14:07:00 GMT -7
Every fall, many families celebrate the season with tricks, treats, and of course, Jack-O-Lanterns.
While it may be hard to include your pet bird on many popular Halloween festivities, there is one way to give your bird some delicious treats of his or her own that are nutritious and easy to make, as well! Toasted Pumpkin Seeds are a great source of protein and other vital nutrients. Just remember -- don't toss out those pumpkin "guts" when carving time comes around!
Ingredients:
* Fresh Pumpkin Seeds
* 1 tsp. Vegetable Oil
Preparation:
* Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
* Cut a hole in the top of your pumpkin and remove all of the seeds and strings. It may help to use a large metal spoon to scrape the inner walls of the pumpkin.
* Separate the seeds from the stringy bits and pumpkin pulp and place them in a clean bowl.
* Wash the seeds in warm water to remove any pulp that may cling to their shells.
* Grease an aluminum baking sheet with a minimal amount of pure vegetable oil. Please make sure that you do not use a non-stick baking sheet. Place the seeds on the sheet and bake for 30-45 minutes, turning them about every 5 minutes to prevent burning.
* Once the seeds are dry and toasty, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool. Then serve them to your bird and see if he will perform some tricks for you in return for the tasty treats. You may be in for a big surprise!
* If you would like to enjoy this snack with your bird, set a handful of the raw seeds aside and toss them with salt and your favorite seasonings before baking. NEVER share these seasoned treats with your pet. A bird's tender digestive system cannot handle salty snacks like ours can.
While it may be hard to include your pet bird on many popular Halloween festivities, there is one way to give your bird some delicious treats of his or her own that are nutritious and easy to make, as well! Toasted Pumpkin Seeds are a great source of protein and other vital nutrients. Just remember -- don't toss out those pumpkin "guts" when carving time comes around!
Ingredients:
* Fresh Pumpkin Seeds
* 1 tsp. Vegetable Oil
Preparation:
* Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
* Cut a hole in the top of your pumpkin and remove all of the seeds and strings. It may help to use a large metal spoon to scrape the inner walls of the pumpkin.
* Separate the seeds from the stringy bits and pumpkin pulp and place them in a clean bowl.
* Wash the seeds in warm water to remove any pulp that may cling to their shells.
* Grease an aluminum baking sheet with a minimal amount of pure vegetable oil. Please make sure that you do not use a non-stick baking sheet. Place the seeds on the sheet and bake for 30-45 minutes, turning them about every 5 minutes to prevent burning.
* Once the seeds are dry and toasty, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool. Then serve them to your bird and see if he will perform some tricks for you in return for the tasty treats. You may be in for a big surprise!
* If you would like to enjoy this snack with your bird, set a handful of the raw seeds aside and toss them with salt and your favorite seasonings before baking. NEVER share these seasoned treats with your pet. A bird's tender digestive system cannot handle salty snacks like ours can.