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Pumpkin Seeds:

Pumpkin seeds are rich in vitamins and minerals like manganese and vitamin K, both of which are important in helping wounds heal. They also contain zinc, a mineral that helps the immune system fight bacteria and viruses. 

Pumpkin seeds are highly nutritious and packed with powerful antioxidants. Pumpkin seeds have been shown to improve heart health, blood sugar levels, fertility, and sleep quality.

Interesting! 

Pumpkin plants grow both male and female flowers, and only the female flowers can turn into pumpkins. The male flowers generally grow first and are responsible for creating the pollen that fertilizes the female flowers.

Pumpkins aren’t the only edible things that come from pumpkin vines—you can eat the flowers too! In fact, pumpkin flowers are found in a number of popular dishes around the world, particularly in southern India.

Although it would be perfectly safe to eat a pumpkin flower straight from the vine—assuming it’s clean—most people use them to cook with and add to dishes.

Some popular uses are in soup, salads, salad dressing, teas, fritters, and with rice.

How to Preserve a Carved Pumpkin

Once carved, pumpkins will generally only hold up for three to five days — or up to two weeks if you live in a colder climate — before wilting and showing signs of decay. 

Need to avoid mold-

The best way to clean your pumpkin after carving is to use a little bleach. 

Bleach kills mold and will prevent it from attacking your pumpkin. You can either completely submerge your carved pumpkin into a solution of three tablespoons bleach to three gallons water, or you can use a spray bottle filled with water and a small amount of bleach to treat the carved areas. Let the pumpkin air dry after bleaching.

You can also try tea tree oil diluted in water as an antifungal, anti-mold fighter. But keep in mind this is a powerful essential oil; the smell alone will tell you that. Just as it can be used as an insect repellant, the oil can be used in the garden and to keep mold away from your pumpkin, but if you use it, keep the pumpkin out of reach of children, pets and other animals. Some people are very sensitive to this oil, so test your diluted oil and proceed with caution.

Need to avoid moisture-

Unless you want your pumpkin to look like a shrunken head, you may also need to apply a water-repellent lubricant to the cut areas to keep them from drying out. Petroleum jelly or vegetable oil will help keep the moisture in and keep your pumpkin looking good.

Another option is to use a store-bought pumpkin preservative spray like Pumpkin Fresh, which contains fungicide (to kill the mold) and lubricants (to keep the pumpkin from drying out).

Other Tips: 

If you need to preserve an uncarved pumpkin, try shining it with one of those ingredients to keep it looking fresh.

But a word to the wise: If you plan to eat your pumpkin after carving, refer to the first point, adjust your carving timing, and skip all of these options. Carve the pumpkin close to Halloween so that it won't sit out for so long, and if you plan to roast the seeds or any of the flesh, carve away any spots that look moldy before you start to cook.

Recipe Source

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds With Curry and Mint Recipe

Guess who this is ^^?!?!

Ingredients 

2 cups pumpkin seeds

2 tablespoons (30ml) vegetable, canola, or olive oil

2 teaspoons curry powder

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup chopped mint from 1 bunch mint

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice from 1 lime

Special Equipment 

Knife, spoon, baking sheet/tray

Spray bottle

Bleach 

Vegetable oil 

High Level Steps 

Wash seeds

Dry out in oven at 200℉ 

Reset oven temp to 325°F

Toss seeds with ingredients (minus lime and mint)

Roast 25 minutes