Pages - Menu

December 23, 2010

Taste of Old Time Magic

I have a fond memory of Christmas past.  My mother, gone now but not forgotten, would stir up the most mouth watering treats.  This time of year I find myself hunting for and cooking up my moms favorite treat.  Thanks mom for being such a cooking mentor. 
One such treat that was only made and shared at Christmas time was my mom Spiced Nuts.
I've seen several knocks of this recipe but they just don't compare to the original.  Don't know where of when mom got this recipe or how long it's been in the family.
Today was my first time trying to duplicate what my mother did with ease.
Scared and nervous as I am more a cookie and pie maker.  Candy making is not something that I do well.
I always remember mom making her Spiced Nut Recipe with walnuts.  I decided to mix things up a bit and use not only walnuts but pecan and almonds.
I am so proud of myself!  This Christmas recipe couldn't be easier.  Even I could do it with success.
Here is the finished product.  So very addictive.  So very sweet.  So very easy.


Now if you are wanting to make up a quick treat for Santa instead of the usually cookies, here is what you do -

Spiced Nuts
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup boiling water
1 tsp white corn syrup
1 tble cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dry ground ginger
1/8 tsp dry ground cloves
 1/2 tsp vanilla
3 cups shelled whole nuts (your choice) placed in a very large mixing bowl

Add sugar, boiling water, corn syrup, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in a medium sized sauce pan.  Stir till sugar and spiced are dissolved over medium heat.  Continue cooking without stirring until syrup reaches the thread stage on a candy thermometer. (230 degrees F)
Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
Pour the mixture over the nuts that you have in the large bowl.
Mix, fold and stir nuts and syrup mixture until the mixture turn to sugar on the nuts.  This will take a couple minutes, just keep stirring.  Once nuts are sugar covered pour out on to a lightly sprayed cookie sheet, separating large nut clusters.  Cool, package and share.

Sound harder that it really is.  I double the recipe and it works out great.
Enjoy and have yourself a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Entered in the following Holiday Photo Challenges.
PhotobucketPhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and Lolli Household6Diva FotoFriday grace loves the beatles

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Oooh, sounds yummy! And the photo is awesome!! What kind of lens did you use? I need a good macro lens.

Angela@the crazyness that is me said...

Oh they look so yum. have a lovely Christmas barb

Ashley Sisk said...

That looks really yummy!

Unknown said...

I have a 85mm Macro great for close-ups that I don't want to get that close to. Also a beautiful portrait lens. Two for the price of one. BTW it's a nikkor 85mm

grace said...

That looks delicious! Merry christmas and thanks for linking up. :)

Barbara said...

Looks delicious - great photo too. Merry Christmas!

Unknown said...

A yummy macro!

Liz said...

this seems really like a good eat. I work at a nut store and this would sell really well. Merry christmas.

Rosie@leavesnbloom said...

Those look delicious. Happy Christmas.

Angel Rogers said...

Wonderful subject matter and tasty looking treats! I like your focus and dof! merry Christmas!

Discovery School at First Baptist Heath said...

Great capture of yummy memories! MErry Christmas to you!

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

OOOhhh, wish I could have just one...or the whole canister of those!!! Beautiful mouthwatering photo!!!

Anonymous said...

Looks absolutely delicious! Merry Christmas!

Satakieli said...

Yum, looks delicious! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

~Shari said...

Oh yeah. Those look delicious! and that photo.. I want to take one just like that. I suppose I will be able to.. just as soon as I start my class. ;) I have this hectic week here at work and then the New Year. I will no doubt start before my birthday on the 12th. I can't wait.. to start class - finally!!

Seizing My Day said...

Oh yummy!! My mom passed away when my first born was a baby... my favorite thing about the holidays is baking her recipes!! Not many of them... one day I will brave a few more... but it is special times!! I will try to print these and make them one day! thanks for sharing!

I am going to work on my O pics... Dec was NOT my best blogging month! I am off to read a few more posts... I am catching up big time!! haha!

Hope you had a beautiful Christmas with loved ones!