Best Bites: Snack Mix
By Donna Erickson
Make an "I'm Nuts About You" Snack Mix for Your Valentines
On Valentine's Day, surprise the sweethearts in your life with a tasty batch of seasoned nuts mixed with candied treats straight from your kitchen, then packaged in a reusable Mason-style jar. The recipe for this salty-and-sweet flavor combination with a hint of orange will win over hearts of all ages.
Just ask Eloise Kelen and her sister, Tessie. The energetic girls have been busily writing heart-shaped gift tags and mixing up batches of the delicious combo with their mom, Tasya, who started a line of popular spicy nut mixtures under her Isadore Nut Co. label (www.IsadoreNutCo.com).
Tasya is committed to feeding her family nutritious meals and making snacking good for you, too. Organic, nutrient-rich nuts that are seasoned, roasted and packaged in a commercial kitchen became the ideal product line to satisfy her goals for her family, as well as her entrepreneurial spirit.
"Mom's recipes are secret!" Eloise whispers to me as I nibble on Cayenne Spice, an irresistible spicy mixture of walnuts, cashews and pecans. But Tasya willingly shares another seasoned nut recipe that her family makes -- one that combines well with dried cranberries and chocolate chips for a Valentine's Day snack mix that families can make and gift to others during this time of year.
PHOTO CREDIT: Donna Erickson
ORANGE SPICED NUTS SNACK MIX
Makes 4 pint-sized jars
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
4 tablespoons orange zest from three navel oranges
1 teaspoon salt
7 cups unsalted pecans, almonds and cashews, split evenly
Fleur de sel (French sea salt, optional)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried cranberries
4 clean pint-sized glass jars with lids, such as Mason jars
Heat oven to 325 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine maple syrup, orange zest and salt. Add nuts and toss until well-coated. Spread half of the nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and stir with a spatula. Return to oven and bake an additional 5-7 minutes, or until medium brown.
Place on wire rack to cool. Lightly sprinkle with fleur de sel, if you wish. Repeat with remaining nuts. When completely cool and dry, combine all nuts with chocolate chips and dried cranberries.
Fill four pint-sized jars. For a Valentine's Day gift, tie a heart-shaped gift tag around the lid with a special message like: "I'm Nuts About You!"
Use within one month.
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Donna Erickson creates relationships and community through food and fun. Find more to nourish and delight you at www.donnaerickson.com.
(c) 2024 Donna Erickson
Distributed by King Features Synd.