Pecans Roasting Near an Open Fire...

It is COLD out there today.  The weather this year has been so unpredictable.  I don't like this cold weather without any snow.  Feels like a waste!

To heat the house up, I first lit the kitchen fireplace.  Next, I decided to make Spiced Pecans for my Hubby to take to work tomorrow.  The smell of them roasting in the oven is quite festive, and having the oven on for a while will help heat the house up.  I always leave the oven wide open after I have turned it off, because it helps keep your heating bill down by warming the room.

To make yummy Spiced Pecans, we first need to get all the ingredients together.

Next we mix the sugar, spices, and salt to combine.

We then whisk our egg white until it is foamy (we aren't talking meringue here, just frothy), and add some good vanilla extract to it.

Next we fold in our pecans.

Then we sprinkle our sugar and spice mixture over the pecans, and give it another good fold.

Put the pecans on a jelly roll sheet that has either aluminum foil or a silpat in the bottom.

Bake them up in the oven for 25 - 30 minutes.

Try not to eat them all before they cool!

Spiced Pecans

1/2 c. Sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ground ginger
1/4 t. cloves
1/2 t. sea salt
1 egg white
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 cups of pecan halves or pieces (may cook a little faster if using pieces)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl combine the sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and sea salt making sure that all the ingredients get evenly mixed through.

In a large bowl, whisk the egg white until it is all foamy, but not to soft peaks.  Whisk in the vanilla extract.

Fold in the pecans, making sure that they get the egg mixture all over and none of the pecans are dry.

Sprinkle the sugar and spice mixture over the pecans, and fold the mixture once again to be sure that you have evenly distributed the mixture.

Pour the pecans on to a jelly roll sheet pan with either a silpat or aluminim foil in the bottom of the pan.

Bake for 15minutes, and stir.  Continue baking another 10 - 15 minutes, until the pecans are fragrant and toasty.

***These are great gifts to take to the neighbors or for a hostess present, and they also make for a tasty salad topping.  If you were going to a Christmas potluck, you could make a Winter Salad with mixed greens, and pomegranate perils, your favorite cheese, and some of these pecans, and then take a bag of the pecans to the hostess!***