Ok, a lot Martha Stewart.

I scooped up a pumpkin this weekend so I could roast some pumpkin seeds like I did last year. After harvesting the seeds from my pumpkin I remembered an idea I read on Martha Stewart’s website for an all-natural, chemical-free room freshener, so I went to town.

No, I didn’t.

I went to the Fitness & Spice test kitchen and grabbed an apple corer, some spices, and a candle and here’s what I did to make…

Pumpkin & Spice Air Freshener

• Cut the top off the pumpkin like you would to carve a jack o’ lantern
• Scoop out the guts and save the seeds for roasting
• Using an apple corer, cut holes all over the pumpkin (this takes a little muscle, but you’re tough, you can do it)
• Generously coat the inside of the pumpkin with your favorite fall spices (like cinnamon, anise, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla beans…just skip any extracts because that is a wicked fire hazard)
• Place a tea light candle inside the pumpkin and light it up (Martha probably used a homemade beeswax candle that she made from her personal bee hive, but I did not go this far)
• Enjoy the glow and (once thoroughly heated) the amazing aroma from your Great Pumpkin

WARNING: Never leave lit candles, children, puppies, or someone on a diet with a bowl of Halloween candy unattended.

Now I really must glow thank Martha for the idea and wish you a warm and spooktacular Oh Holy Night!

You’re probably saying to yourself, “Is she nuts?” Well, as a matter of fact, I am quite crazy for…

Fitness & Spice Pumpkin Nut Mix

• 1 egg white
• 1 C pumpkin seeds
• 1 C natural almonds
• 1 C cashews (you can use pecans or walnuts, too)
• 2 T Splenda for Baking
• 1/2 t seasoning salt
• 1/2 t ground cinnamon
• 1/2 t cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Beat the egg white until fluffy. Add pumpkin seeds, nuts, and toss well. Place remaining ingredients into a small bowl and blend well with a fork. Add spice mixture to nuts and seeds and stir to combine everything well. Spread mixture onto a baking sheet and bake for 50 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes. Cool completely and store in an air tight container.

This mix is packed with amazing flavors and a MONSTER MUNCH (right, Jen?). You can also shake things up a bit and customize your own sweet and/or spicy blend. For instance, if you are going to a party with a lot of vampires, add some garlic salt. As a matter of fact, I can’t take ALL the credit for this recipe as I was inspired by this article I found when researching the many health benefits of pumpkin seeds.

Pumpkin seeds deserve a high five for being packed with five B Vitamins not to mention all of the magnesium, fiber, and protein (yes, protein!…a handful of pumpkin seeds contains about 20 grams of protein). Not to mention all of that Vitamin P! Just kidding, I was just checking to see if you were paying attention.

Ah, nuts! I would tell you all about the health benefits of almonds, but I’ll let Donna tell you instead. I simply must run and seeds the day!