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Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
from "Halloween" by Silver Ravenwolf

Note: Adult supervision required. Pumpkin seeds are excellent for Halloween spellwork and Halloween munching. Some pumpkin seed recipes call for boiling the seeds first, where others do not. Although we boil them in this recipe, if you're in a hurry, you can skip that step-just be sure you've cleaned the seeds thoroughly before baking them.

Pumpkin seeds (wishes)
2 quarts water (purification)
1/2 cup of salt or to taste (protection)
2 tablespoons olive oil (healing and peace)
2 tablespoons dried rosemary (protection)

Rinse pumpkin seeds. Boil water. Add salt. Pour seeds into boiling water. Boil until seeds are soft. (They should turn brownish grey and slip to the bottom of the pot). Drain the boiled seeds in a colander, and pat seeds dry. Put in a bowl with olive oil, salt, and the rosemary. Mix lightly. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spread the seeds onto a large cookie sheet covered with aluminum foil. Make a single layer of seeds (don't have any little piles). Put seeds in the oven for 20-30 minutes. If the seeds turn brown, you are overcooking them. They should look white and dry. You do not need to turn the seeds. When finished, use a spatula to slide the seeds off the foil and into a bowl. Allow to cool before little hands touch them.

Bread of the Dead

A delicious way to celebrate Samhain. Substitute this bread for your ritual cakes in October. Also makes a great treat for your Samhain/Hallowe'en parties.

Ingredients

2 envelopes yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
4 cups flour
1 cup sugar, plus extra
2 teaspoons salt
3 beaten eggs, divided
2 tablespoons melted shortening OR butter, cooled
2 tablespoons fresh orange zest

Dissolve yeast in water. In a bowl, sift together flour, 1 cup sugar, and salt. Stir 2 beaten eggs, shortening, and zest into yeast. Add yeast mixture to flour and stir. Turn dough out onto floured board and knead for 10 minutes. Cover dough and allow to rise for 1 hour.

Grease a large cookie sheet. Punch down risen dough. Using a sharp knife (athame for those of you who use yours to cook with), cut off 1/3 of dough. Form remaining dough into a skull shape on cookie sheet. Cut eyes, nose, and mouth. Form "crossbones" from reserved dough. Let rise 1 hour.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. Remove from oven and "glue" crossbones to skull with some of the remaining beaten egg. Brush leftover egg over entire loaf, sprinkle with sugar, and bake for 10-20 minutes more until loaf is golden and sounds hollow when tapped.

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