Monday, September 15, 2008

Sweet 'n Spicy Nut


Excuse me as I indulge a dusty memory for a moment: When I was in school I took a semester of Playwriting. The culmination of the course was the production of a completed script. My script was titled: "Hannah of the Salted Variety", it was basically a thinly veiled "account" of my life and times in a small liberal arts new england college and the angst that ensued. Hardly a masterpiece, rather self indulgent, sometimes amusing, on the whole a bit of a bore.
The high point of the script (and I mean that literally) is an argument Hannah and her male roommate have, he claiming that all women are "nuts" and the difference is that some are plain, some are honey roasted, and others are salted....Hannah being of the salted variety.
Why I bring this up now? Tonight I'm making a salad utilizing slices of juicy ripe pears, a tangy pomegranate vinaigrette, and I thought a batch of sweet 'n spicy walnuts would go wonderfully.
These walnuts have just a hint of the heat cayenne pepper endows. They are sweetened by maple syrup and brown sugar, kicked up by a pinch of cinnamon, and for just a suggestion of saltiness a pinch of salt.
I'm thinking sequel. Hannah 15 years on, a few kids, living the bourgeois dream. "Hannah of the Sweet 'n Spicy Variety"?

Sweet 'n Spicy Nuts
Grease a baking sheet and preheat oven to 325F. Combine in bowl 1 c. walnuts/pecans , 2 tbsp. maple syrup, 1 tbsp. packed brown sugar, pinch of salt, generous pinch of cayenne pepper, and a dash of cinnamon. Mix until nuts coated. Spread on baking sheet- place in oven bake for .about 15 minutes until golden and bubbling.

1 comment:

Alexa said...

Your salad sounds heavenly. I love candied nuts in salads. The pomegranate vinaigrette must go so well with both the pears and the nuts. Yummy...