Hot nuts #1

12 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1canPlanters \"party size\" cocktail peanuts; unsalted (this is twice the normal size can)
1canCashew halves (the cheap ones on sale)
2tablespoonsUnsalted butter
2teaspoonsSalt
1teaspoonCayenne pepper (powder)
1teaspoonBlack pepper
½teaspoonWhite pepper
1teaspoonCumin
1Smallish brown paper bag

Directions

Adapted from the recipe for Hot Cashews in a cookbook called "Hot Stuff" that I got at a garage sale a long time ago.

Heat cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat, melt butter, and dump in nuts.

Heat and stir the nuts until they brown a bit. Beware too high a heat or too infrequent a stirring, otherwise pick out and discard burned nuts.

Place the seasonings into the bag and shake to mix. Transfer the browned nuts from the hot skillet to the bag, crimp the top, and shake. This distributes the seasonings onto the buttery nuts, and allows the excess butter to be absorbed by the bag. When cooled a bit, pour nuts back into their containers.

Have recipe ready at party, for those who ask. You will probably want to step up the pepper quantities, as these are spiced pretty much to appeal even to "the old aunties" and those with mainstream tastes.

My wife (not a chile-head) makes me keep the small can home when I make these, so she can sprinkle the nuts on her Chinese food.

Gus Altobello, Jr., Work: gus.altobello@..., Play: alto@...

CHILE-HEADS ARCHIVES

From the Chile-Heads recipe list. Downloaded from Glen's MM Recipe Archive, .