Roasted Vegetable Couscous

 Easy Candied Pecans

I have been a big fan of candied nuts ever since I would buy candied pecans, walnuts, and peanuts from street vendors in New York City!  I have never found better candied nuts than the ones sold by the NYC street vendors and I cannot recreate those, but I have created a healthier version.  Every once in a while, I will indulge in the NYC-style street vendor candied pecans, but on most days, I go for the healthier version.  I've experimented with many ways to create candied nuts, from boiling to baking to pan-frying.  None of those methods worked well for me except for this one particular method.  Candied nuts are delicious and you don't have to use pecans.  You can experiment with all kinds of nuts, from peanuts to walnuts to almonds.  I am sure my way of making candied pecans would work well with all different types of nuts and it is whatever you prefer.  Nuts are filled with all kinds of health benefits and I would encourage you to give this a try and find various ways to add nuts into your diet...unless, of course, you are allergic.  

The health benefits of pecans range from lowering blood pressure to helping you lose weight by keeping you full.  Pecans have both fiber and healthy fat.  Fiber keeps you full longer so you won't need to eat as much to get that full feeling.  Pecans are actually considered a superfood and help to reduce inflammation in the body.  As if I haven't stressed this enough, inflammation in the body leads to all sorts of health ailments so anything that reduces inflammation in the body is a good thing.  

I have also added maple syrup for sweetness.  Maple syrup is produced from the sap of the Maple tree. Maple syrup is also anti-inflammatory and contains numerous antioxidants.  Maple syrup is a healthier alternative to artificial sweeteners and has a low glycemic index.  It is also potentially protective against cancer and helps to protect skin health.  

Ceylon cinnamon is another ingredient I added for its health-promoting properties.  The good news is that Ceylon cinnamon is full of health-promoting antioxidants that can help prevent cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.  I try and add Ceylon cinnamon to many of my dishes including my turkey chili.  It adds depth of flavor in addition to being super healthy.

So, first gather your nut of choice...

My nut of choice is the delicious pecan, but walnuts or almonds would work just as well!  I decided to use Maple syrup as my sweetener of choice for it's health benefits and the fact that it is a natural sweetener.   Plus, this flavor works well with pecans so it was my first choice sweetener.

So, next you add your maple syrup.

Then, after you add your maple syrup, add a pinch of salt and a pinch of Ceylon cinnamon.

Stir the maple syrup, salt, and Ceylon cinnamon into the pecans and then spread the pecans out on a cookie tray lined with parchment paper.   Place in the oven heated to 150-200 degrees and bake for 3-4 hours.  Once the maple syrup is sticky and caramelized, then the pecans are done. 

 

Cool the pecans for 10 minutes then enjoy!  

Ingredients:

3 cups pecans

1/2 cup maple syrup

pinch of salt

pinch of Ceylon cinnamon

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 150 or 200 degrees.  In a large bowl, mix pecans with maple syrup, salt, and cinnamon.  Line a baking tray with parchment paper and spread pecan mixture in a thing layer on a baking tray.  Ensure that pecans are not on top of each other.  Bake in the oven for 4-5 hours until maple syrup is thick and sticky.  Ensure you stir the pecans halfway through the cooking time.  

Then, enjoy!