Sweet and Spicy Candied Nuts

Pinterest is every lazy scrapbooker's dream. I have 273 pins ranging from craft projects, to travelling and, of course, recipes. It's a great way to explore new blogs and projects based on the things you love. However, I have a bad habit of forgetting about them and leaving my potential projects to sit.

My friend, the Pinterest Fairy, has over 1500 pins and is much better at going through with the items on her boards. 

She introduced us to these Sweet and Spicy Candied Nuts on a girls weekend where we demolished them over the course of one night. Needless to say, we were hooked.

After hearing me rave about it the next week, she gifted us a giant jar of these nuts for our housewarming -where they were again demolished by our guests. I had to make some of my own.

This recipe for Sweet and Spicy Candied Nuts is so simple to make and is a big hit.

The hardest thing is making them last.

Sweet and Spicy Candied Nuts (adapted from Citrus and Candy)

Ingredients:

1/3 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup white sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp ground cinnamon
500g mixed nuts (I used macadamias, almonds and cashews)
1 egg white
1 Tbs water

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C
2. Mix first 6 ingredients, making sure there are no lumps and set aside
3. Beat the egg white and water until frothy and loose. Coat the nuts evenly with the egg wash
4. Sprinkle nuts with the sugar mixture and toss to coat evenly
5. Spread the nuts on a baking tray in one single layer and bake for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally
6. Remove from oven and separate nuts as they cool
7. When completely cooled, break up clusters and store in an air tight jar

Masala Chai

Jason and I aren't really coffee drinkers. I used to be addicted to flat whites when I was at university, but have since moved on to tea because it doesn't make me jittery. We do visit cafes often though, but instead of coffee, we order Hot Chocolate for Jason and a Chai Latte for me.

However, frequenting cafes is not the best for the wallet so I started buying a chai tea mix from the tea store by my work. It was when I opened the packet that I realised that I could make my own! Now that winter has well and truly arrived, it is the perfect time to make up a batch of masala chai to enjoy while sitting under a blanket with a good book.

Tea and spices for masala chai

Masala Chai is a mix of warming spices and herbs brewed with black tea very popular in South Asia. There is no set recipe or method of preparation for masala chai and many families have their own version although they all contain a tea base, spices, milk and some form of sweetener. 

Crushing the Spices

Preparing the spices mix takes practically no time at all and the end result is very rewarding. It's quite comforting to know exactly what has gone into your drink instead of adding ready made syrups. An added bonus is that the toasting process fills your house up with the most beautiful aroma of warming spices.

I'm hoping that this will last us through winter but, judging by the rate we've been going through it, I think I should have made a bigger batch!

Masala Chai Mix 
Makes about 2 1/2 cups

Ingredients:

2 Tbs green cardamom pods
4 whole star anise
4 4" cinnamon sticks
1 Tbs fennel seeds
2 tsp whole cloves
2 tsp whole black peppercorns
2 tsp coriander seeds
1/2 cup chopped candied ginger or dried orange peel
1 1/2 cups loose black tea

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C
2. Place all the spices in a baking dish and toast in the oven for 5 minutes
3. Lightly crush the toasted spices in a mortal and pestle (or use a rolling pin)
4. Add the candied ginger and black tea to the spices and mix well.
5. Spoon into a jar to enjoy all winter!

Brewing Instructions:
For two

Ingredients:

1 cup boiling water
1 cup milk
1 Tbs Masala Chai mix 
Honey

Method:

1. In a plunger, pour the boiling water over the chai mix and let steep for 5 minutes. The tea will become bitter if you leave it too long. Alternatively, you can put the mix into a tea bag or mesh ball.
2. While the tea is brewing, heat the milk in a saucepan or in the microwave.
3. Mix the hot milk and strained tea and sweeten to taste.
4. Enjoy :)