This ain't your Aunt Jemima's syrup

Next time you have an itch for a mid afternoon candy bar, I have a suggestion for you.  Try glazed nuts.  I made Ellie Krieger's recipe for Maple Glazed Walnuts over the weekend.  These are phenomenal!  They taste like those yummy candied nuts I make around Christmas time that are laced with butter and sugar.  But these are a much healthier take on the nutty indulgence. 

Walnuts are one of those "super foods" we all hear about.  The health benefits are a mile long.  Be mindful of your portion size though.  Walnuts are high in fat, but all good fats that will keep you healthy and provide you with tons of energy.  These glazed walnuts are a much smarter pick over a sugar bomb chocolate bar out of the snack machine. 

I've been eating these right out of the zip lock baggie as a mid-afternoon snack.  But I also can't wait to try them on a crisp fall salad with apples or pears.  Plus, if you use organic 100% pure Maple Syrup these are natural, whole food snack (By my definition of the term anyway.  It seems there are a thousand interpretations on what exactly "natural" is these days).  Since many of us are trying to avoid processed foods, it's an added perk.

Maple Glazed Walnuts

2 cups walnut halves

1/3 cup maple syrup (Don't skimp on this one, but 100% pure maple syrup; organic if you can find it.  A small bottle is around $7.00, and worth every penny.  Read the ingredients label if you are in doubt. If you've never tried real, pure maple syrup you are in for a treat.  It will make you wanna slap your Aunt Jemima it's so good!)

1/8 teaspoon salt

Heat a dry skillet of medium-high heat.  Add the walnuts, maple syrup and salt.  Cook, stirring frequently, until syrup is caramelized and nuts are toasted, about 3-5 minutes.  Spread the nuts evenly on wax paper sprayed with non-stick cooking spray to cool completely.

Above: Just added in the maple syrup, you can see it bubbling in the pan.

Almost done, you can still see some of the syrup in the bottom of the pan. 
Keep stirring and mixing them well.  You want them to be evenly coated.

Done!  You can see the walnuts are glossy with the glaze and all the moisture from the pan has coated the nuts.

After they have cooled they are still gorgeous!  Shiny and slightly sticky. 

One more tip: Wash the pan immediately!  The drops of sticky syrup left will glue itself to the skillet making it a dish washer nightmare.  Yes, I know from experience.

Happy snacking!