Savory and Spicy Nuts

The last few evenings in the Bay Area have been extremely chilly.  It is great for staying inside with a roaring fire and a lovely glass of cabernet sauvignon along with watching a great movie.  Hubby and I certainly enjoy our television time.  I must admit that BravoTv captures the majority of our time.

Yes, hubby enjoys watching the Real Housewives series with me, with the exception of one city which will remain nameless.  I on the other hand love all cities.  Bravo certainly has a knack for casting, editing, and storytelling with real people or shall I say hiring an entertaining cast of characters. Several co-workers are fascinated by this series along with me.  Sometimes when others who don’t engage in this addiction hear us talk, they think we are talking about people we really know.  In a way, we do know them.  Smile.  It is simply a great escape from the day to day stresses.

While sitting watching television there is nothing better than a tasty crunchy snack.  Recently I came across this recipe for this savory and spicy nut snack and knew it had to be created soon.  The recipe could not have been easier and the majority of the ingredients most folks probably already have in their pantry.  If not, a quick stop to the grocery store would do the trick.  I changed up the recipe slightly by combining macadamia nuts along with the pecans and increasing the garlic powder and dried mustard requirements to kick up the flavors.  The outcome is an addictive snack that I had to put some “portion controls” on by serving in a small bowl – otherwise I would eat more than I needed.  Enjoy this simply sublime snack!

Savory and Spicy Nuts

2 cups pecan halves

2 cups macadamia nuts

5 tablespoons butter, melted

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 ¼ teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon ground mustard

½ teaspoon Tabascosauce, or to taste

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Place the nuts in a large mixing bowl.  In another bowl whisk together the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, salt, garlic powder, ground mustard, Tabascoand cayenne.  Pour the butter mixture over the nuts and stir until well combined.  Taste a nut and add more Tabascoor cayenne if desired.

Arrange the nuts on a large sheet pan and bake for 20 to 22 minutes until toasted and lightly browned, stirring halfway during cooking time to prevent burning  Remove from the oven and cool completely, tossing occasionally, before transferring to an airtight container.