Susan's Simple Spicy Pecans

Susan's Spicy Pecans!

Susan’s Simple Spicy Pecans

If you are craving something sweet but with a kick – and throw in mucho crunch – you are craving my close friend Susan’s spicy pecans.  She makes these as Holiday gifts every year.  Lucky for me, she also makes them as a hostess gift.  This generates many dinner invitations so I can get a regular allotment of these delights. I confess we almost never share with other guests – just quickly hid them for later consumption.

The recipe is amazingly simple – and the nuts last a long time in a sealed plastic bag.  Well – their longevity is depends on whether you munch on these continuously like we do.

Mix together 2 Tb sugar, 1 ½ Tb brown sugar, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp  black pepper and ½ tsp of cayenne pepper (or more if you like more zip).Take 2 C whole pecans and sauté in 1 ½ Tb butter over med-high heat until hot. Add the above dry ingredients and sprinkle over hot pecans. Let it cook, stirring, just until sugar caramelizes and nuts are coated.  Watch carefully as it can move from carmelization to burned quickly.  If it smokes, turn down the heat and take off the burner for a few seconds.

Pour out onto aluminum foil. The nonstick aluminum foil works best.  Once they cool, break into bite size pieces.  Store in closed container or sealed plastic bags.  Good any time!

--Larue