I just have to share the love with my SMF peeps. I have the best nuts of all the Squirrels in the magical kingdom (that I call my brain). I did a cold smoke using my handy dandy AMS using some fairy dust (which is apple for all of you non-magical dusters). Then I took 5 cups of those puppies and made THIS:
5 cups pecans (smoked is even better)
1 heaping tablespoon butter, melted
2 cups sugar
1.5 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup water
2 tsp. vanilla extract
Toss the pecans with the melted butter and slow roast in the oven at 300F for 20 minutes stirring after 10 minutes.
In a heavy duty large pot over medium heat combine remaining ingredients EXCEPT VANILLA
Bring to a boil and let it reach soft ball
stage of 236F (took mine about 8 minutes to get there)
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla (it will foam up when you do this)
Quickly stir in roasted pecans and stir to coat all nuts
Spread out on the same baking sheet you used to roast nuts in, let cool. Break apart and if you don't eat all of them right then and there, store in an airtight container. I don't know how long they will keep because the never last a whole day. You've seen my Squirrel picture. Fat girls need love too.
These make wonderful gifts at the holidays. I usually make these, some homemade mozarella, a loaf of sourdough bread and a jar of my homemade jam and put in a basket for gifts at Christmas. My list is getting longer!
The first picture is just after pouring on the pan, second picture is after they have cooled and broken apart.
5 cups pecans (smoked is even better)
1 heaping tablespoon butter, melted
2 cups sugar
1.5 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup water
2 tsp. vanilla extract
Toss the pecans with the melted butter and slow roast in the oven at 300F for 20 minutes stirring after 10 minutes.
In a heavy duty large pot over medium heat combine remaining ingredients EXCEPT VANILLA
Bring to a boil and let it reach soft ball
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla (it will foam up when you do this)
Quickly stir in roasted pecans and stir to coat all nuts
Spread out on the same baking sheet you used to roast nuts in, let cool. Break apart and if you don't eat all of them right then and there, store in an airtight container. I don't know how long they will keep because the never last a whole day. You've seen my Squirrel picture. Fat girls need love too.
These make wonderful gifts at the holidays. I usually make these, some homemade mozarella, a loaf of sourdough bread and a jar of my homemade jam and put in a basket for gifts at Christmas. My list is getting longer!
The first picture is just after pouring on the pan, second picture is after they have cooled and broken apart.
