~Tailgating Snack~

We live about half an hour from Stillwater, home of the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and the school where Mr. Bill played several years of football back in his day.  We are die hard fans for our Pokes!!  It was very hectic around here getting our RV ready for a weekend of tailgating so I wasn't able to get this post ready before game time.  I wanted to share with you a great snack that I made for our weekend event.  But since it's a great snack for watching a movie; while warming up by a crackling fire; tailgating; parties; and even gift giving, I thought I'd go ahead and share this.

Awhile back, I bought a jar of mixed nuts (Mr. Bill likes to have them for snacking) when shopping at Target. I've been buying them for a long time and never realized that they also have an "unsalted" variety.  And, obviously, I'm blind about reading labels...it's there in bold print.  See?  UNsalted.  Anyway, unsalted, roasted nuts have a very bland flavor not worthy for snacking purposes.  I didn't want them to go to waste and stuck them in the freezer.  Then, the thought hit me..."Spiced nuts!!! I'll save them for this fall."  So, that's what I did.

Fall is here.  Tailgating time is here.  What better time is there to make some Spiced Mixed Nuts for snacking?  I have used this recipe in the past and it was a big hit.  The original recipe calls for:

• 8 oz. dry roasted peanuts
• 1/2 c. unblanched whole almonds
• 1/2 c. walnut or pecan halves
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp. water
• 3/4 c. sugar
• 1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

I figured the jar contained about six cups of nuts, so I tripled the recipe.  AND, I used 

2-1/2 tbsp. apple pie spice mix (it's all I had) and added pumpkin pie spice to make up the difference.

Directions:  In a large bowl, combine egg white(s) and water.  Add nuts; toss to coat.  Combine sugar and spice; sprinkle over the nuts and toss until well coated.  Spread nut mixture on a lightly greased baking sheet.  Bake at 300 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.  Immediately transfer to waxed paper to cool.  Break up into large clusters and store in covered container.

My spiced nuts didn't turn out like I wanted because I was in a hurry.  Here's where I went a bit wrong.  I forgot that this recipe was pretty sweet and forgot to cut back on the amount of sugar...about half of what the recipe calls for.  Because I made one large batch instead of three small batches, the sugar didn't 'cook' like it should have.  I needed to run a few errands, so I turned the oven off after 30 minutes and left them there while I was gone.  As a result, the spiced nuts turned out more like a praline instead of slightly sweetened, spiced nuts.

If you like the praline type nuts then, by all means, add all the sugar.  They still taste good.  Really good.  All in all, they turned out pretty yummy.  And they're addictive, too.   You can print out the recipe for  Spiced Mixed Nuts here.

Quote for the day ~ "For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together.

                                For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad." ~

                                Edwin Way Teale