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Pepitas Pumpkin Seed Snack Mix with Cranberries

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Pepitas Pumpkin Seed Snack Mix with Cranberries

Almonds, pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries make for a great combination of protein, fat and carbs for a quick and easy power snack to fend off the munchies! Pound for pound, almonds provide just about the best protein to calorie ratio of all nuts and they are associated with all sorts of health benefits such as helping to reduce the risk of heart attack, lowering bad cholesterol and even improving brain function. Pumpkin seeds are also in the premier league when it comes protein to calorie ratio and outperforms pretty much all of its rival seeds. Adding dried cranberries provides a hit of carbohydrate to increase energy levels so all in all this is a pretty good all round power snack.

Ingredients

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    Pumpkin Seeds – 1 Cup – Raw
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    Garlic – 4 Cloves – Crushed
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    Dry Red Peppers – 4 Pieces – Cracked
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    Sugar – 1/2 Teaspoon – To Taste
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    Salt – 1/4 Teaspoon
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    Lemon or Lime – 1 Teaspoon – To Taste & Garnish
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    Cranberries – 1/2 Cup – Optional
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    Favorite Nuts – Optional

Method

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    In a pan on high heat, place the pumpkin seeds and dry fry for several minutes stirring constantly, so they do not burn, until they begin to swell.
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    Add the garlic and mix well and reduce the heat, add the cracked or crushed red peppers.
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    Add the salt and mix, then turn the heat off.
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    At this point add the sugar and give it one last mix.
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    The pepitas are ready to serve with lemon or lime garnish and can be squeezed onto the mix.
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    For a sweeter mix add dry cranberries.