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Monday, August 17, 2009

When Foodie Friday becomes Meatless Monday


I've been out of town most of this week. Add that to the fact that The Boy has left to go back to college has added up to a no cooking week. This turn of events meant that there was no Foodie Friday for me because I won't put up a recipe that I haven't personally made and loved. It's a quality control issue for me. I'm just thinking of you all.

On about Wednesday or Thursday I had a major Wedge Salad craving. Casey, which day was it? Let's just say that Wedge Salad played a significant role in my restaurant ordering choices while in Austin.

One of my favorite parts of a Wedge Salad, (beside blue cheese because damn, it's blue cheese, it's cheese), is spiced candied walnuts. These take a while to bake but well worth the effort. Here's the recipe.


Spiced Candied Walnuts


The hard and software.

Preheat oven to 250 degree.

Whisk together and spread out on a cookie sheet.
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/3 teaspoon each ginger and nutmeg



Combine and beat slightly
1 egg white
2 tablespoons whiskey - I used the good stuff.



Coat in egg mixture.
1 cup walnut pieces

Drop nuts in the sugar spice mixture. Mix them lightly to coat.



Keep nuts separated (this sentence just sounds wrong.). Shake off excess. Hands work the best for this. Sorry about this picture. How much more creepy can my hand get, wrinkles and brown turdy looking things. These are really better than they look in this picture.

Place them on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the oven and shake off excess sugar. Store in a tightly covered container.


My two favorite uses for spiced nuts are; "Blue Cheese Wedge Salad" and "Spiced Walnut and Ricotta Ravioli". Or if you really wanted to you could also just snack on these. Along side of some sliced pears, Yummm........



I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Love,
M


This will make a wonderful Meatless Monday add on. Give it a try.

11 comments:

  1. That is one bee-yoo-tee-ful salad. I am making one tonight dammit. It will hit the spot after a hot day in Bagwine. Thanks for inspiration. Cheers Michele!!

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  2. When I first started to read it, I thought why would anyone bother to take the time to make those? Well, by the end...I knew why. That looks sensational!

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  3. I do love a wedge salad. There as a time there about 3 months ago everytime we ate at home I included a wedge salad. But I didn't use nuts. This recipe sounds so cool....have to try it.

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  4. There's just something about ice cold iceburg lettuce.. Yum!

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  5. I don't remember the day but I do know that I'm checking my mailbox for those candied walnuts. ;) Well, I was until you said they looked like turds and then they reminded me of a shitty diaper I just changed.

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  6. A foodie? I'm a closet foodie. Yipee. I can come here and get recipes?

    I'm so excited. Start posting more little lady. I can't wait. Literally (faints)

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  7. That salad just screams for bacon.

    (sorry....I couldn't help myself)

    BACON!!!!!

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  8. Argh! I never get around to returning comments until after the boys are in bed and you always have something up that makes me hungry.

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  9. I love meatless anything; this sounds yum....

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  10. I had to laugh at CAPE COD GAL ! Bacon is nice...the walnuts are great.

    Thanks for another lovely recipe!

    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

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  11. I love me some wedge salad, and you just reminded me that I need to pick up some walnuts and make some pesto with all of my basil! Or maybe pine nuts...hmmmm.

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