Recipe: Savory Spiced Pecans Recipes from The Kitchn

Now that Halloween is behind us (how the heck did that happen!?), I immediately have to brace myself for the rushing tidal wave that brings in the holiday season. My to-do list immediately grows longer as I begin planning family gatherings, testing new Thanksgiving recipes, and pondering edible gift ideas. It's a chaotic time for sure, but I look forward to every single minute of it.

One thing I have learned over the years is that you can never start too early. Yes, I admit the stores get a bit overzealous when it comes to Christmas displays in July, but I do have to admire their forethought. (Okay, somewhat admire. For the most part it is rather quite obnoxious.) Still, it never hurt anyone to get a jump start in the right direction. As for me, I've especially been thinking about holiday hostess gifts lately, as well as easy snacks and nibbles. I want to have a smart assortment ready to make and give come "party time."

One of my most requested fall recipes is for spicy maple pecans, which I love tossing with salads, serving with an assorted cheese platter, or just eating straight from the bowl. It will always be a no-fail favorite, but in my perpetual attempt to never bore, I decided to roll out a new-and-improved version this year. With all the other sweets and treats I can rely on to flood our home, I began craving something just a bit more savory. I started out with inspiration from another Southern favorite: deviled eggs. Using those same spicy ingredientsWorcestershire, Tabasco, ground mustard, and cayenneI created an incredibly good, incredibly addictive snack.

Too good, in fact. My mother warned me to hide the pecans from my father until I had a chance to take the pictures. Despite my dad's obsession with nuts, I still gave him a handful, just as a little tease. The look on his face was all I needed to confirm what I already knew: these things are insanely delicious. "Can I have just two more?" My father whimpered. I gave in to his request but hid the container just in case. These people can't be trusted...

Savory Spiced Pecans

Makes 4 cups

4 cups (1 pound) pecans halves
1/3 cup (5 1/3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

Preheat oven to 300F.

Place the pecans in a large mixing bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, salt, garlic powder, ground mustard, Tabasco, and cayenne. Pour the butter mixture over the pecans and stir until well combined. Taste a pecan and add more Tabasco or cayenne if desired.

Arrange the pecans on a large sheet pan and bake for 20-22 minutes until toasted and lightly browned, stirring halfway cooking time to prevent burning. Remove from the oven and cool completely, tossing occasionally, before transferring to an airtight container.

Related: Sweet, Salty, and Simple: 15 Snacks & Treats For Fall

(Images: Nealey Dozier)

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Savory Stuffed Figs Recipe Taste of Home Recipes I use this three-ingredient recipe when I want a sweet and savory appetizer thats simple to make. It can be made ahead, and is nice for elegant or casual ... Mama Neely's Spiced Pecan Cake Recipe : Patrick and Gina Neely ... 1 hr 10 min; Butter , for greasing pan; 1 1/4 cup chopped pecans; 3 tablespoons brown sugar; 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar; 2 ... Sweet and Savory Spiced Nuts Recipe at Epicurious.com Find the recipe for Sweet and Savory Spiced Nuts and other pecan recipes at Epicurious.com All Recipes Kitchen Daily Breakfast Burritos. Raisin Oatmeal Mix. Southwestern Star Dip. Chunky Chicken Noodle Soup. Cayenne Pretzels. Black Widow Bite Cookies. Spiced Pumpkin Pancakes with ... Spiced Pecans Recipes Mrs. Dash 20 min; Ingredients. 2 Tbsp. (30mL) Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy Seasoning Blend 2 tsp. (10mL) Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend 1/4 cup (60mL) butter Jessica's Spiced Pecans Recipe - Saveur.com These fragrant, skillet-roasted pecans get their earthy, spicy bite from rosemary, Spanish smoked paprika, and chili powder. Savory Squash Soup Recipe : : Recipes : Food Network 3 hr 0 min; 3 3/4 pounds pumpkin or butternut squash; 1 acorn squash (about 1 3/4 pounds); 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/8 ... Red and Napa Cabbage Salad with Braeburn Apples and Spiced Pecans ... Find the recipe for Red and Napa Cabbage Salad with Braeburn Apples and Spiced Pecans and other pecan recipes at Epicurious.com Roasted Butternut Squash & Pear Salad with Spiced Pecan ... How to make Roasted Butternut Squash & Pear Salad with Spiced Pecan Vinaigrette with 1/2 cup pecans, very coarsely chopped Recipe Center: Recipes for Professional Chefs & Home Cooks ... Chef2Chef's recipe center features thousands of delicious recipes for professional chefs and home cooks. Browse recipes by ingredient, cuisine, course, and more.

Southern Family Recipe: Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo Recipes from The Kitchn

Do you have a smell that so completely reminds you of a certain person, a special memory, or an exact place in time? As I stood above this bubbling pot of chicken and sausage gumbo, my childhood self was immediately transported to my late grandmother's house in Florida, where flavors of her Louisiana heritage always greeted us upon arrival.

We all know there are as many gumbos as there are cooks, and there's no right or wrong way to make it. (Insert comment war here!) As a Southerner I've enjoyed countless versions, including ones with black-as-night roux, okra as thickener, fil powder as a thickener, or piles and piles of fresh seafood. Being that I'm landlocked in Atlanta, however, my favorite is my nanna's, full of tomatoes, chicken, sausage, and more than a generous dousing of Tabasco.

This is the recipe I grew up with, whether at family trips to the beach to visit relatives or the annual Dozier Christmas Eve dinner. This week I decided to make it alongside my mother, to retrieve all the nitty gritty details. Our version turned out exactly like I remember, but I did unearth one family secret I never knew. Turns out, my grandmother used to swap in a microwave roux. I didn't even know such a thing existed, but hey, they are bayou-born and bred, so I'm inclined to think they know what they're doing.

I've adapted the recipe with a more traditional style of roux, but I'll include the "new-and-improved" version as well. This make enough for a very large crowd, but it also freezes perfectly. And what could be better than a piping hot bowl of Louisiana gumbo saved for a cold, rainy day?

Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo

Serves a crowd

1 whole fryer chicken (about 4 lbs)
1 1/3 cup cup vegetable oil
1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup seeded and diced green bell pepper (about 1 pepper)
2 cups diced celery (1 bunch)
4 cups diced white onions (about 4 onions)
1 head of garlic, peeled and minced (about 8-10 cloves)
3 (28-ounce) canned tomatoes, crushed or diced
12 ounces Andouille sausage, sliced and quartered
4-6 bay leaves
1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
Cayenne pepper, to taste

Place chicken in a large pot and cover with water. Add leftover onion and celery trimmings if desired. Salt lightly. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer, removing any foam as necessary. Cook approximately 45 minutes to an hour, turning occasionally, or until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken and allow to cool, reserving broth. Shred once cool. Add the leftover bones back to the stock and continue simmering until ready to use.

To make roux, heat the oil in a large soup pot at medium heat until shimmery, about 2 minutes. Add the flour and whisk until blended. Continue whisking constantly until desired color is reached. I went for a caramel color, which takes a minimum of 25 minutes. You can go until you reach a coffee color, about 40 minutes.)

Keeping heat at medium, add peppers, celery, onions, and garlic to the roux and cook until tender, about 5 - 8 minutes. Add the shredded chicken, tomatoes with their juices, sausage, bay leaves, Tabasco, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Pour in the chicken stock (reserved from earlier), plus additional stock or water if needed to cover. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cook for at least 4 hours or longer. Adjust seasonings to taste. (If you have time, cool and reheat the next day, when it tastes even better.)

Serve gumbo with additional hot sauce and cooked white rice.

To make microwaved roux: mix oil and flour in a 4-cup glass dish. Microwave uncovered for 6-8 minutes, whisking half way through, until the roux is a caramel color. Be sure to watch closely towards the end of cooking time to make sure it doesn't burn. Add the peppers, celery, and onions and microwave another three minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook 2 minutes longer. Continue with recipe.

Related: Tip: How To Make a Brown Roux

(Images: Nealey Dozier)

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Chicken Gumbo with Andouille Sausage Recipe Simply Recipes A classic spicy chicken and andouille sausage gumbo with okra. Chicken and Sausage Gumbo: Recipe: bonappetit.com Chicken and Sausage Gumbo For authentic gumbo, add fil, a Creole herb found in better markets. Chicken and Smoked Sausage Gumbo with White Rice Recipe : Emeril ... 4 hr 0 min; 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 cup vegetable oil; 1 pound smoked sausage, such as andouille or kielbasa, cut crosswise 1/2-inch thick pieces; 4 pounds chicken ... Easy Chicken Gumbo Recipe MyRecipes.com This easy chicken gumbo calls for a flavorful roux made by cooking flour in hot oil. Authentic Cajun Chicken And Sausage Gumbo Recipe - Southern.Food ... What's a Cookbook? You can save and organize your favorite recipes into FREE online cookbooks. Create as many as you want! Chicken, Sausage And Shrimp Gumbo Recipe - Food.com - 100349 What's a Cookbook? You can save and organize your favorite recipes into FREE online cookbooks. Create as many as you want! Chicken & Andouille Sausage Jambalaya Recipe Nola Cuisine Jambalaya is as synonymous with NOLA Cuisine as Gumbo! There are vicious debates about whether the dish is of French or Spanish origin. The word itself is from the ... Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo Recipe Nola Cuisine Yesterday was bitter cold here in the Detroit area, perfect Gumbo weather, so I whipped up a small batch to warm our souls. When it comes to chicken for soups, Im ... Slow Cooker Chicken Sausage Gumbo Recipe - Food.com - 455574 What's a Cookbook? You can save and organize your favorite recipes into FREE online cookbooks. Create as many as you want! One Great Gumbo with Chicken and Andouille Sausage Recipe ... 40 min; 2 tablespoons extra- virgin olive oil , 2 turns of the pan; 1 pound chicken breast tenders, diced; 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs , diced or ...