Spicy Glazed Nuts

My dad recently sent me a huge bunch of walnuts, almonds and cashews in the mail.  I usually snack on them at the office but I got to thinking about other ways I could use them.  Salads, sauces and toppings are a few options, but glazing them with powerful spices makes for a great cocktail party treat!  If you don’t have cocktail parties, just serve these when your friends come over for beers.  If you don’t like spicy things, just leave out the red pepper flakes and the Tabasco.

Makes 2 cups

2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 dashes (1/4 teaspoon) Tabasco sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, chopped finely
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more for sprinkling)
2 cups mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews, etc)
Plain sugar (for sprinkling)
Fresh cracked pepper

Add spices to a small bowl and set aside.  Toast nuts in a dry skillet on high heat for about 4 minutes, stirring frequently and then transfer to a bowl.  Add butter, brown sugar, Tabasco sauce, water and spices to the skillet and stir for about 2 minutes.  Add the nuts back in to the skillet and stir to coat for another 2 minutes.  Spread glazed nuts out on a tin foil lined cookie sheet, keeping them separated.  Sprinkle the nuts lightly with pinches of salt, sugar and fresh cracked pepper.  Let the nuts cool on the countertop for about 10 minutes, or until the sugar has set, then serve or store in an air tight container or bag.