"I don't think we'll be having Applepalooza this year," I said to Mama Teacher about a week ago.
I should've known not to talk with the kids in the house. They have huge ears.
"Mom, we have to have Applepalooza!" Sis cried.
And Mama Teacher agreed.
So, it was a last-minute decision as far as parties go, with invitations only going out a week ago. Despite the lateness of it all, and then the little spitting showers throughout the day, we had a great time, with guests coming in three different waves so that the feel of the party changed throughout the day from boisterous to chatty to intimate. Mama Hungry and Mama Teacher did the lion's share of the work (thank you so much!), with the kids enthusiastically trying to help. And it all came together beautifully, with lots of apple foods and drinks and the traditional "Pin the Stem on the Apple" game. Our kids surprisingly played with the neighborhood kids, a first for one of our parties, where Sis and Bud usually hover around either a parent or the food table. Though, there was a lot of that too--Bud had two whole caramel apples and Sis downed at least two pieces of apple pie plus other treats! One of the best parts was when showers forced us all to duck into our little kitchen, carrying plates and platters of food with us, and we all stayed eating and chatting, crammed into the warm room where Mama was roasting nuts. The heavenly smell of roasted nuts and all those baked goods, plus the good cheer of friends, was perfect. As our friend Miss Mary remarked, when I commented after the rain passed that it was now a beautiful day, "It was beautiful before, too." And it was.
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More recipes to follow . . . .
Sweet ‘n Spice Glazed Nuts
3 cups pecan or walnut halves
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon vanilla
Mix together sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and salt. Put nuts and sugar mixture
in Nut Roaster Pan (I just know you can do this in a skillet); stir to mix. Combine orange juice and vanilla in measuring cup.
Add liquid to glaze/nut mixture in pan. See detailed instructions below.
Instructions for Use:
1. Spread nuts evenly in bottom of pan. Use whole almonds, pecan halves,
walnut halves, whole hazelnuts or whole cashews. For best results, use
3 cups or less of nuts.
2. Sprinkle dry glaze evenly on top of nuts.
3. Mix nuts and glaze together by turning handle on top of Nut Roaster.
4. Place pan on burner; turn burner to medium high heat.
5. Add liquid according to recipe directions, pouring evenly over the nut/
glaze mixture. Stir.
6. Glaze will quickly turn into a thick liquid; boil gently during cooking
process.
7. Stir contents slowly and continuously to keep glaze coating nuts at all
times until liquid evaporates and nuts are glazed (5 to 10 minutes). When
the liquid is evaporated and the stir handle becomes harder to turn, the
nuts are done. Do Not Overcook.
8. Remove pan from burner. Quickly sprinkle a little water over nuts (about
1 tablespoon per 2 cups nuts). Mixture will steam - keep hands away until
steam dissipates to prevent burns. Stir nuts to coat evenly with glaze.
9. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, immediately spread hot nuts on a nonstick
or wax-paper covered cookie sheet to cool. Gently separate nuts
with a wooden spoon. Nuts will be very hot – do not eat until cooled (even
though they smell delicious and you will fi nd it very diffi cult to resist!).
10. To store, be sure nuts are thoroughly cooled and then put in airtight containers.
Refrigerate to retain freshness or freeze for future use.
11. To reheat for serving:
a. Microwave: Spread 1/4 pound of glazed nuts on a fl at plate and cover
with paper towel. Heat on lowest power setting for 2 1/2 minutes,
rotating plate half-way through heating. Increase time to 3 1/2
minutes for 1/2 pound.
b. Conventional Oven: Preheat Oven to 250°. Spread 1/4 pound of
glazed nuts on a non-stick cookie sheet and cover with aluminum foil.
Heat at 250° for approximately 7 minutes; increase time to 10 minutes
for 1/2 pound.
Back to Basics Nut Roaster
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