These are delicious and quite different than the usual salted pumpkin seed recipes. The seeds are instead sweet and buttery…hmmm. Try them out!

• 4 cups pumpkin seeds, rinsed and dried
• 1/2 cup margarine, melted
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup white sugar, divided

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Combine the pumpkin seeds, margarine, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl; stir to coat the seeds. Spread the seeds in a single layer in a 10×15 inch jelly roll pan.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes; stir and return to oven for 15 minutes more; remove from oven and sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar over the seeds; stir to coat. Return to oven and bake another 15 minutes before removing again to sprinkle with remaining sugar and stirring. Bake another 15 minutes. Allow to cool before serving. Store leftover seeds in an airtight container.

Every year I try to make Pumpkin Soup (Minestrone di zucca), a recipe I found from “The Ultimate Italian Cookbook” by Carla Capalbo. It is a beautifully colored soup that is just perfect for an Autumn dinner. Hope you enjoy it!

• 1 lb piece of peeled pumpkin
• 1/4 cup butter (3/4 of a stick)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3-1/2 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups milk
• pinch of grated nutmeg
• salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1-1/2 oz spaghetti, broken into small pieces
• 6 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. Chop the piece of pumpkin into 1 inch cubes.

2. Heat the butter in a saucepan. Add the onion, and cook over moderate heat until it softens, 6-8 minutes. Stir in the pumpkin, and cook for 2-3 minutes more.

3. Add the stock or water, and cook until the pumpkin is soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat.

4. Puree the soup in a blender. Return it to the pan. Stir in the milk and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the soup back to a boil.

5. Stir the broken spaghetti into the soup. Cook until the pasta is done. Stir in the Parmesan and serve at once.

Yep, it’s that time of year again, when microbreweries bring out there seasonal pumpkin flavored beers. While some people may find these gross, I actually enjoy a little pumpkin and spice flavoring in my beer. After all, beer is really not that pleasant of a taste anyway. I’ve heard several people compare the taste of beer to that of urine. However I’ve never actually met anyone who has sampled urine so not sure how they can make that assumption. In any case, I started thinking if you can make beer taste like pumpkin, what other things can you make beer taste like? Did a little research and this is what I found:

Pizza Beer

There is nothing better than sinking your teeth into a warm slice of pizza. It’s a divine culinary experience in my book. But to drink a beer that tastes like pizza sounds like the biggest tease on the planet. No stretchy mozzarella, no olives, no pepperoni, no way! I’m not sure I could set myself up for that kind of disappointment. Besides, the smell of this beer would remind me of those weird Scratch-N-Sniff stickers from the eighties.

Chocolate Donut Beer

Mmmmm…chocolate donuts. If you’ve ever tasted one, then you’ve tasted a piece of heaven. And to have it in a beer… I’d be willing to take that leap of faith. I see this type of beer being categorized as a dessert beer. Why not…they have dessert wines!

Chili Beer

Wow…a chili beer? If your the type of beer drinker that enjoys a cold one, this is probably not the beer for you. If you are determined to kill the lining in your stomach, then go ahead and sip down on this almost untastable hot beer. Chili hot that is.

Dog Beer

If dog is truly man’s best friend, then it should be obvious to award your best friend with his own bottle of suds. Then again, seems like a frat boy prank to get an animal drunk. No..actually, this beer is only for dogs! “Bowser Beer is a chicken, non-alcoholic, non-carbonated beverage for dogs”. Oh gross…beer that tastes like chicken! Be careful not to accidentally reach for this beer in your fridge.

Kids Beer

I don’t know how this can bee good. Kidsbeer is non-alcoholic guarana-based juice that looks just like beer. It is being marketed at events and celebrations in Japan. Their advertising slogan is “Even kids cannot stand life unless they have a drink.” That’s precious…priming the next generation of alcoholics.

If your a fan of all the food challenges on TV, then you’ll enjoy Food Network’s new show “Halloween Wars“. The first episode was on last night Sunday, October 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The season kicked off with “Witches and Scary Places” where five teams had to create Halloween displays of witches and a haunted scene using pumpkins, candy and cake. Each team is made up of pumpkin carvers, candy makers and cake designers. Every episode will feature a celebrity guest judge including Rob Zombie, R.L. Stine, Jaime King and Scout Taylor-Compton. If you missed the first episode, have no fear…there are still 3 more episodes. October 9 is themed “Scary Tales,” in which the four remaining teams will create a “twisted version of a fairy tale.” October 16 is “Zombies vs. Vampires,” and the last episode on October 23 features displays of the “Underworld.”

Every year in September, I get filled with anticipation awaiting the Fall merchandise (and more specifically the newest Halloween collectibles). As we all start getting busy with ordinary “life” stuff, like the ever depressing end-of-summer back-to-school sales, we sometimes run out of time or forget to check what new wonders have arrived in the stores to welcome the autumn season. So I’ve done the work for you and collected websites for some of my favorite shopping stores with links to their Halloween merchandise pages. I hope you’ll find this helpful as you make plans to hit the markets in search of this year’s little treasures.

If your style is more traditional and classic, you are sure to enjoy Pottery Barn. Their website has beautiful photography to help inspire you to host a spooky party, serve classic treats, turn your home into a pumpkin patch, or display a ghostly gallery on your walls. I LOVE this store!

For a little more glitz and glam, head over to Pier 1. They have a great page to get the ideas flowing called Halloween Ideas to die for.

I’ve always found Z Gallerie to be a bit eccentric in its choice of merchandise, but I will definitely mention them because they do have a small collection of Halloween flair. Seems they are very big on skeletons this year so check out their selection.

What’s Halloween with out a little arts and crafts. Michaels has got you covered there. Not only do they have pumpkin carving kits, Lemax Spooky Town Collectibles, but they carry Martha Stewart Crafts™ Halloween!

Now let’s head to the kitchen! Williams-Sonoma has a tasty selection of treats for those with a sweet tooth. Here you’ll find delicious cakes, cookies, and even a no-bake Halloween Haunted House Kit. If your going to have treats you’ll want to have something spellbinding to serve them in. For example, enjoy your witches brew of choice in these Halloween Cauldron Mugs.

Halloween at Sur La Table is full of creative culinary ideas. Pick up some creature cookie cutters, or a spooky black cat apron. Serve your goodies on their Halloween cake stand or Spider Web Candy Bowls.

Crate&Barrel is jumping on the Halloween bandwagon too. They have a small collection of Halloween kitchen supplies such as their Halloween Cupcake Decorating Stencils.

Good ol’ Tarjay…I mean Target has it’s own massive Halloween section of the store. Not only do they carry costumes but have lots to decorate your indoor and outdoor spaces.

They get a bad wrap…but give the superstore Walmart a chance too. They also have an enormous selection of Halloween merchandise. With costumes, craft and party supplies, you might try going here to save yourself a buck or two. They have many of the same decorations that the larger seasonal Halloween shops have.

I don’t think I have to mention (but I will) a few other seasonal Halloween stores. Spirit Halloween is stocked and ready to unload their newest props and costumes in stores all over the country. Halloween Illusions is now open and people are flocking to pick up their monsterous merchandise early before it’s sold out.

Well that should keep you guys busy for awhile. I have a few other places I wanted to mention but there is so much to talk about for those that I will do a separate special blog to focus more completely on these favorites of mine. Have fun shopping!