Mood:
happyNow Playing: Day 2895-Chapter 3... Happiness~My Silver Lining
It's like a really bad version of the Twelve Days Of Christmas;
One unexpected $4,850 expensive housing issue.
Two bad Cleveland Clinic phone calls.
LA-LA-LA
LA-LA-LA!
Enough with that nonsense! This weekend is all about being HAPPY! The other issues can wait until Monday.
Time for some holiday baking!
YAYYYYY!
Here we go with everything that this gal needs for a few new creations. I must admit... cooking with no recipe can be pretty darn challenging. But so far the outcome has been more than D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S with a festive twist!
First on the list. My own creation on what to do with left over pecans. I always wanted to make candied pecans. You know... the kind you see at a gourmet food retailer around Christmas. All wrapped up in a pretty container, topped with a red bow and a huge price sticker. Now I know why candied pecans are so gosh darn expensive.
It took forever to figure out a way to turn plain ole shelled pecans into candied heavenly bliss! Actually... I like to call this first creation simply put, 'Drunkin' Covered Pecans.' With Amaretto being my cooking choice for all of my holiday creations. It's no wonder these pecans went from plain to drunkin' in brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, all-spice and good ole Amaretto liquor! Then it was off to the oven to cook for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
I cooked the pecan mixture in a saucepan for 10 minutes before setting the oven for 350 degrees. With such a gooey consistency. I first had to separate the pecans out on a large cookie sheet with parchment paper before placing them in the oven. You really can't go wrong with these Drunkin' Covered Pecan treats! Talking about smelling amazing... just like a bakery! And just wait until the final reveal after drizzling melted white chocolate and chopped macadamia nuts on both sides of the baked pecans.
OMG!! SCRUMPTIOUSLY DELICIOUS!!!
Worth adding to your holiday recipe list! Although patience is a must! This is one candied pecan treat that takes quite a bit of time in the kitchen.
I am always one to multi-task, so while I was working on creating my Drunkin' Covered Pecans. The left over cranberries were in need of my attention. That will be tomorrow's shared recipe. But for now... it's off to taking these plated holiday goodies back to the freezer!
Drunkin' Covered Pecans
1 large bag of unsalted pecans
1/3 cup of Amaretto liquor
1 large bag of Ghirardelli white chocolate baking chips or wafers
1 bag of chopped Macadamia nuts
1/2 cup of molasses or Karo dark syrup
1/3 cup of dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of all-spice
You will need two large cookie sheets, two medium sauce pans and plenty of time on your hands... HA!
Mix pecans, Amaretto, molasses or Karo dark syrup into medium sauce pan. Cook on low-medium for 10 minutes. Mix in dark brown sugar, cinnamon and all-spice. Let sit to cool for 5 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spoon pecans onto middle of large cookie sheet and then separate before placing in the over for approximately 20 minutes, give or take. When the mixture begins to bubble around the pecans, then you know they are cooking properly. Place cookie sheet on cooling rack for 10 minutes and then back into freezer for 20 minutes.
Next... the melted white chocolate and macadamia nut drizzle!
Melt baking chips in a medium size sauce pan until a smooth consistency and then drizzle with a spoon over pecans on large cookie sheet. Quickly sprinkle macadamia nuts on top of the melted chocolate and then place cookie sheet in freezer for 20 minutes. You will need to carefully separate the pecans once out of the freezer and repeat drizzled white chocolate and sprinkled macadamia nuts on the other side of the pecans. I used a few cookie sheets and then decorative plates to separate the Drunkin' Covered Pecans before placing them back in the freezer until ready to eat.
These would make for great holiday gifts in a mason jar or any other festive container!
Drunkin' Covered Pecans
Recipe by: Little Ole Me
