Foodie Blogroll

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Sweet Spiced Nuts!!



Dogs just don't understand daylight savings time...how to you explain to them that we change the clock back in the fall. My dog is still getting us up at 5:00AM thinking it's time to get up for work. He used to just make sure we got up on the weekends at 6:ooAM he could not get that it was Saturday either. So funny (well not really it pretty anoying actually) he will stand outside the slider door looking into the bedroom and bark, needing nothing other than for us to get up! Today it was again 5:00am and he was standing there...in front of the open door...after he had already been outisde...and bark, pause, bark, pause, bark, bark...are you up yet? Ahhh...dogs...Sheesh!

Yes Autumn is here and even though we don't really get the typical fall weather here in Florida we are able to turn off the AC (at least in my house we do) open the windows and sliders, and sitting outside and really enjoy the room temperature. Now we can do the baking that we have been wanting to do and the house smells like spices, my favorite.

Spiced Nuts are an easy way to get your house smelling good. I first made these for a chopped salad, and since have made them for a Christmas or house-warming gifts. They are perfect to set out for when company comes, but I warn you...they don't last long, the bowls will be empty before you know it! The recipe is adjustable to what you like...add a little chili powder or cayenne if like some heat!

Ingredients:
1 cup pecans, walnuts, almonds or mixed nuts what ever you have or want
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon or pinch or nutmeg and/or cloves
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
3 teaspoons butter, melted



In a bowl mix brown sugar with spices...in a seperate bowl melt the butter. Then dip the nuts in small batches in the metled butter then into the sugar and spice mix...


Spread out on a cookie sheet lined with parment paper (for easy clean up) . Walnuts on the left and I used a bag of the pecan pieces on the right ...this is great for salads!



Place in a 375 degree oven for about 8 minutes. Now I learned the hard way that 8 minutes is about right...
...much more than that and the sugar and spice coating will start to melt off, and end up all over the parchment paper...just keep any eye on them.



Walnuts all sweet and spicy just waiting for you...so good, I like it when the sugar gets a little caramelized.



The smaller pieces I just store in a jar until I am ready to use them in a salad. I usually don't like it too sweet, but this is a nice little touch of sweet and spice to the salad.

Are you on my gift list?


Edited to add photo and I really should wake him up





23 comments:

  1. Poor pup (or you?) These nuts are easy to go nuts over (sorry, couldn't help myself)....

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  2. Cats don't get daylight savings time either.

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  3. Walnuts are usually bitter but you made it perfectly sweet! :)

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  4. You had me at nuts. Especially spiced ones! By the way, kids don't understand daylight savings time, either.

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  5. These are prefect healthy snacks to munch on! ;D

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  6. Lyndsey these sound great! I love quick homemade gifts like this and I think I'll put them out at Thanksgiving!

    My dog has been doing the same thing since the time change! He always wants to get up and be fed by or before 7 (usually by 6:30 at the latest), but since the time change he's started waking me up at 5. He definitely doesn't get the time change either.

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  7. I have never had a dog where the time changes, Zimbabwe or S. Africa so I have never thought of this problem. Nevertheless I had to laugh but I can imagine it is annoying :))
    Those spiced nuts sound amazing one for me to try very soon. Thanks Diane

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  8. These look so yummy! I could eat them right out of the oven ( after they cooled of course ). I have to try these for the holidays. (o:

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  9. I would have to hurt that dog! LOL, these looks super.

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  10. I have never made my own spiced nuts and that has got to change. I will have to try making some soon and probably add some heat too :)

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  11. These look delicious , love nuts!! gloria

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  12. I would love to have some to munch in front of the tv:D

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  13. I love this sweet spiced nuts. Sounds so easy to make. :)

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  14. Exactly the recipe I was looking for; merci.
    Rita

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  15. LOL!! And I'll bet once they get used to their owners getting up by what they think it's an hour later, it's back to re-setting the clock again. Haha! Poor pupppy!
    I love these spiced nuts. Forget the gifts... I'd finish them before I could even get them wrapped up.

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  16. Love the addition of cinnamon and nutmeg in them, looks fantastic!

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  17. When we have pets, there is no way to sleep in. They will make sure you get up when they get up. My Ruby will jump into my bed at 7.30am every morning and if I do not get up by 8, she will be all over me. Now with Ranger even worst, he is so noisy and will not stop until I get up. But I still love them. The spiced mixed nuts is something nice to have around, they go so well with wine and you are right, it will be a nice snack to serve guests. Love this recipe and thanks for sharing.

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  18. Oh, I hope I'm on your gift list...spiced &/or sweet nuts are a major weakness for me- can't stop eating 'em! They sound awesome. Our cat (who thinks he's a dog, by the way) goes into my daughter's room at about 5 every morning and meows loudly in her face. But only her room. HA! She doesn't think it's funny.

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  19. I just bought a can of mixed nuts and now I know what to do with them other than snacking on them as they are or adding them in cookies. Thank you, Lyndsey! The spiced nuts sound wonderful!!

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  20. Yum these nuts look delicious! Never made nuts before but this looks so easy to make. What a surprise. Well, your dog and my kids are the same... they just don't know the difference between weekday and weekend. They come jump on top of my bed and start playing. WAY TOO early but they don't care... I am dreaming of a day when I can sleep in quietly...!

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  21. Oh, wow! I would eat the entire batch of these droolworthy crunchy, yummy spiced nuts. Haven't made them since last Christmas...love your recipe.
    Your pup looks so comfy, cozy, resting.
    My kitties wake me up now, at 6:00am thinking it's 7:00am. I just put the pillow over my head, and the one kitty, just sits on top of that pillow, meowing until I finally give in!

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  22. Wow these nuts looks awesome!I could eat the entire batch at once!

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  23. I enjoyed everyones daylight savings troubles stories. I should of known...we adults have issues with the time change...so why wouldn't our pets and children ?...hehe! Good to hear I have company.

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