Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

It's pumpkin time again, and one of my favorite treats is roasted pumpkin seeds.  I've tried several different recipes, but here is my favorite.  The flavor should be a bit sweet, and a bit spicy at the same time.  Be careful not to use too much cayenne to start...You can always add a bit more!

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Take about 1 1/2 cups of washed pumpkin seeds and spread on a lightly oiled baking sheet, lightly salt and bake for 25 minutes.

While they are baking, mix together in a bowl two tablespoons of sugar with 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, ginger and cumin, then add just a pinch of ground cayenne pepper and set aside.

When the seeds are baked, add a couple of teaspoons of olive oil to a frying pan along with 2 tablespoons of sugar.  Heat until the sugar is dissolved.  Add the pumpkin seeds and cook until the sugar starts to caramelize and the seeds are slightly brown.  Stir the caramelized seeds into the spice mixture in the bowl.  Taste and add a bit more cayenne if desired. 

Sugar and Spice, Waterford PA

Sugar and Spice is a little restaurant in the Northwest PA town of Waterford. Although I have not been there for several years I was in the area last week and decided to stop for lunch.  It was just as good as I remembered.  The food is advertised as Amish home style.  I remembered seeing the fish sandwich on a previous visit.  I also remember that it was huge, so Stacy and I decided to split one. As you can see, it was big!  The fish was probably two feet long!!!  Pretty good too.  I can't wait to go back and try some of the more Amish style food.

I know this doesn't have anything to do with 'Burghfeeding but it's interesting!  This week we had a GIANT RUBBER DUCK arrive in Pittsburgh.  I'm not sure why, but you can read the following story to get some insight: http://m.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2013/10/youve-heard-party-bus-pittsburgh-has-party-bridge/7099/

My sister and I went down for a late lunch/early happy hour, and by chance the Duck was making it's way up the river toward us, and gave me the chance to snap the picture above.  Pretty awesome!