During a visit to the farm, my friend Tracy brought me a bag of Spicy Pecans she had made.  They were heavenly—crunchy, salty, and sweet.  Perfect to nosh on, sprinkle over a salad, or even freeze for a special occasion, though they are hard to freeze, because they disappear so quickly.

I’ve noticed that every member of the fooderati has their version of spiced nuts: Emerald, Martha, Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Ina Garten, William-Sonoma.  You can find recipes with more ingredients, but I like the simplicity of this recipe and I often have all the ingredients on hand.  Bonus: they’re gluten-free.

If you’re looking for a tidbit for Christmas Day, a holiday party, or a small, but memorable gift, you might want to try these Spicy Pecans.  It takes less than ten minutes to get them into the oven.  For a gift, put some in a small Mason jar and tie a square of colorful print material over the lid.  Perfect!