Sweet/Spicy Roasted Pecans

Keeping in mind my extensive blog followers spread across the globe, all three of them, I figure I should try and write about food things a bit more accessible. It’s only to be fair to my expanding fan base. Ah sweet delusion.

So speaking of sweet: my housemate, David, yesterday decided to don his oven mitts and asked for baking suggestions. I was quick to forward him this great recipe I stumbled upon a few days back on the New York Times website. After my failed attempts to get him to make the Triple Chocolate Pecan Cookies, we “settled” on the Sweet/Spicy Roasted Pecans instead.

Now, speaking from experience, here are my two cents, its VERY IMPORTANT to remember not to eat several mouthfuls very fast. Even if the bubbling butter, cinnamon, sugar goo beckons with all its might…pace yourself. They probably taste better when savored anyway.

Goes really well topped on salads. Great as a party snack too. Games night people- wait for it!

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

8 cups of raw pecans

4 tablespoons of organic sugar (we totally used the remnants of the chemical sugar lying around)

2 tablespoons of organic cocoa power

1-2 teaspoons of chipotle chilli powder

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground paprika

4 tablespoons of butter, with melted course sea salt


Preparation:

Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Mix sugar through smoked paprika in a small bowl.

Spread the pecans out onto 2 sheet pans. Roast in preheated oven for 12-14 minutes, until they start to get crunchy and aromatic. Remove from the oven, and carefully transfer the pecans to a large bowl.

Pour the melted butter over the pecans. Mix well. Add the spiced sugar mixture and mix again, so that all of the pecans are coated.

Pour the coated pecans back onto the sheet pan and roast for another 3-5 minutes. Watch that they do not burn. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt to taste before serving.

(Serves 10-15)

For all the other great recipes from the NY times magazine. Visit the webpage to just see some beautiful food.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/10/magazine/potluck-recipes.html#/all/