Thursday, January 3, 2013

Sweet and Spicy Salad Pecans

 

  LUCY BURDETTE: Salad during the winter months can be a little dreary, don't you think? I so miss the good tomatoes and peppers and cucumbers that come out of our garden in the summer. But this recipe for sweet and spicy pecans jazzes up any winter greens.

2 cups pecans
1 and 1/2 TBsp butter
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp white sugar
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste)
several twists fresh black pepper
1/2 tsp Kosher salt

Melt the butter in a frying pan and saute the pecans for two minutes over low heat. Mix the sugars and the spices in a small bowl and then add them to the hot pecans. Stir the mixture over low heat for 8 to 10 minutes until the sugar melts and coats the nuts.




Spread the nuts on foil to cool. The nuts make a lovely addition to a winter salad. In this case, I used mixed greens, sliced apples, and pecans, topped with a balsamic vinaigrette.

 But they are also delicious by themselves. My sister makes jars and jars of these to give away as Christmas presents. They are that good!

 You can learn more about Lucy Burdette and her Key West food critic mysteries at her website or on Facebook or Twitter. 

19 comments:

  1. Hey Lucy, my first time visiting on one of your days (I took a break, but I am back). Love the idea of a series set in Key West, can't wait to check your series out.

    has anyone else noticed a big increase in the price of nuts this last year??? just one of those things that drives me nuts.

    And a little hint, in the winter, smaller the tomato or pepper, usually more flavor. Stick to plum tomatoes (or cherry) in the winter (or canned in sauces and soup) and you have almost a tasty garnish.

    Heading off to look over your website

    Dave

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    1. Thanks Dave, so glad you're back! Hope you enjoy the Key West series.

      And you are right about tomatoes--I would never buy a full-sized one in winter. They are usually tasteless and mealy.

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  2. I know that I could definitely eat these by the bowlful...errrr, ahhhh...handful - but they are definitely beautiful on a salad.

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    1. Thanks Heather--I'm a big fan of eating them right off the tin foil:)

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  3. Hi again... Just got off your blog page and looked over your Pinterest page... How am i going to explain to my wife that I am now following the "Drag Queens of Key West" page???

    And Golf and Key West mysteries... So Golf and Key West vacations are tax deductible... I have to get into this writing gig somehow.

    Read you in a week

    Dave again

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    1. Ha, ha, Dave, I would like to be a fly on the wall for that conversation:). Everyone's a little nervous about drag queens until you get to know them and realize that they are just interesting people!

      And remember what my husband likes to say to me: You have to earn something before you can write it off:)

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  4. I'm nuts about nuts, too, Lucy. I've been doing walnuts or toasted sunflower seeds on my salads lately, and I'll definitely make use of this recipe--I'm lovin' the sweet heat in the ingredient mix.

    Nuts to us! :)
    ~ Cleo

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  5. Lucy, yummy! So many people love nuts and they're such a great source of protein.

    Hugs,

    Daryl / Avery

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    1. Right again Daryl/Avery...I see you had a recipe similar to this a while back. Great minds think alike:)

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  6. I also add a few dried cranberries to the salads as well. Plays nicely off the balsamic dressing. If I am really daring maybe even a few crumbles of blue cheese. Ok, now I have to go get lunch...

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  7. Susie, those sound like fabulous additions--thanks for the suggestions! You've made me hungry too...

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  8. I love to pop a little fruit into salads. Mango is my favorite. But these pecans would go a long way toward perking up a salad! And as it happens, a dear friend in Georgia just sent me a ton of pecans!

    ~ Krista

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  9. I love this high protein enriched recipe. Especially I love to try out healthy ones. So I added to this to my list. Thanks for sharing. This looks so tasty too.

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  10. Just what I needed (hubby had a spree and bought a lot of nuts and I do mean a lot). We love salads and these will perk them up. Thanks!

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    1. Uh oh, a husband on a spree! don't these sound perfect for Krista's mangoes??

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  11. Finally made these this afternoon. They are soooo good. I plan to share them with my mom when I go to visit her this weekend. She enjoys 'a nibble' with her evening cocktail. She has more will power than I do....she can eat just a few while I eat a few handfuls!!!! They may never make it to a salad. Thanks for the recipe.

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    1. So glad they turned out well, Sharon! I know what you mean about will power. I have to put things away or in the freezer or simply not have them in the house if I truly love them!

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