Merciful God, You are great in compassion and Your tenderness for us is without measure. We ask You to give us today our daily bread, and also provide for the needs of all of Your hungry children around the world. Through Christ Your Son and Our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Spicy Nuts



I interrupt this regularly scheduled cookie recipe to bring you Spicy Nuts. I've made six batches of them today and well, you know,
carpe diem. These nuts are actually requested by the teachers Doug works with. I made them when Anthony was a freshman and now they ask for them every year.

These are enjoyed by men and women, but for some reason they are particularly sought after by men. Maybe because they go so well with a cold one. I use dried cayenne peppers from my garden, so they are pretty spicy.

This recipe is fairly easy and if you get going, you can get many batches made rapidement. Get all your ingredients in place before starting, because once the nuts are cooked you have to move quickly.

This recipe is from Martha Stewart's green cookbook, but I use several types of nuts instead of the almonds.

Spicy Nuts

3 T. oil
2 c. whole blanched almonds
½ cup plus 1 T. sugar
1½ t. kosher salt
1½ t. ground cumin
1 t. red pepper flakes

Heat the oil in a heavy-bottom frying pan over med-high heat.
Add the nuts and sprinkle the 1/2 cup sugar over them.
Saute, stirring, until the nuts become golden brown and the sugar caramelizes.

Remove the nuts from the pan and toss in a bowl with the salt, cumin, red pepper and remaining 1 T. sugar.
Dump onto wax paper to cool.

Serve warm or room temperature.
Store in an airtight container.

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5 comments:

Unknown said...

This would be great for my group coming for Christmas! The nuts you use, where do you get them?

Barbara said...

I got them at the grocery -- I think the produce department. I bought a few pounds each of pecans, walnuts and almonds. They were all packaged separately.

Anonymous said...

Oh, these would make great little gifts, wrapped in cellophane bags and tied with bows - do they keep well, for a little while?

Margaret in Minnesota said...

Oh my goodness. I've just whipped up a batch of these nuts for my father-in-law and I am wondering if they will still be here when he arrives this afternoon.

They are just. that. good.

Barbara said...

Margaret -- Glad you liked them. They are addictive. Were there any left?