What’s the quickest way to get my husband into the kitchen and asking me, “What are you making?”
Easy.
Roast some nuts.
I’ve never seen someone get so excited over roasted nuts, but he does.
And yes, there are many jokes that could be told with all this nut talk. So go ahead and make your mental jokes and chuckle to yourself every time you see the word nuts. We’re all on the same wavelength but l’ll keep things G-Rated in print.
I get much more excited over these cookies baking, but I have the sweet tooth and he has the savory tooth.
And his savory palate got down with some nuts.
For the recipe I was inspired by Amy of Adventures in Marriage’s recipe after seeing them on her blog. I was assigned her blog for this month’s Secret Recipe Club assignment.
I decided to add chipotle seasoning to the recipe and played with the spice blend a bit. I also used almonds that had already been smoked to add flavor depth.
Plus, I was making these for Scott and he loves a good smoked nut. G-Rated, remember.
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Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Almonds (Vegan; Gluten, Soy, & Dairy Free)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp chipotle seasoning (for a salt-free blend I like Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle)
1 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped + pinch more after roasting
pinch cayenne or chili powder, to taste
pinch salt, to taste
pinch black pepper, to taste
1 c almonds (I used smoked but raw, roasted, salted, plain, smoked; use what you have and prefer)
Directions: Preheat oven to 325F. Combine all ingredients except for the almonds in a bowl and mix. Add the almonds to the oil and spice mixture, and toss to combine. Spread almonds in a single layer on a parchment, foil, or Silpat-lined cookie sheet (for easier cleanup) and roast for 15-20 minutes until lightly toasted, or until desired toasting and browning level is reached. Allow to cool slightly and serve. Top with a pinch more of finely chopped rosemary after roasting, if desired. Will keep in an airtight container or jar for week(s).
Double, triple, or quadruple recipe as desired if making for a party or making extra in advance for leftovers, snacks and lunch boxes, for gifts, etc.
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These would make great holiday gifts because they’re easy and inexpensive but I find that most people prefer homemade gifts. Especially homemade gifts of food.
And around the holidays who doesn’t love a good nut?
The malls seem to capitalize on this because when I’m doing my holiday shopping, the aroma of nuts wafting through the air is pretty intoxicating. I am always tempted to drop my Bath & Bodyworks sprays, get out of that ridiculously long Victoria’s Secret line because I really don’t need more flannel pajamas anyway, and race off to the nut roasting stand and get my mitts on some nuts. Either that or a Cinnabon Donut.
If I keep buttering Scott up with the roasted nuts, maybe he’ll buy me a Kitchen Aid stand mixer.
That way I can butter myself up with baking and dessert making. That’s my master plan anyway.
I’ll let you know if it works.
And yes, it was nutter-riffic taking pictures of these roasted nuts. <– Do you like a side of cheeseball with your nuts? I apparently do.
The last nutty shots I took were at Food & Light and taking these pictures brought back really fond memories of that trip and workshop.
Questions:
1. Do you like nuts? What kind and how do you like them?
I love cashews and peanuts. I am so-so about almonds but I’m not picky. I could sit down with a bag of Trader Joe’s mixed nuts, a jar of Planter’s Peanuts, whatever, and go to town.
I love cinnamon and sugar roasted nuts, honey roasted nuts, or spicy nuts like these chili and lime ones. Oh, so good.
But I am not cut out for them so have to really watch the portion size. They really do a number on me but Scott has a cast-iron stomach and inhaled the batch in record time.
2. Do you have more of a sweet tooth or a savory palate?
Sweet tooth all the way for me!
Give me a Nutter Butter Special K Bar (No Bake) any day over roasted nuts.
Have a great week!
beautiful pictures! i love the props . . . so christmas-y :)
Great photos! They look delish too!
What a great flavor combo! I’m not a huge nut fan, but I love rosemary and I have the Mrs. Dash Chipotle. Bet it would be good on roasted veggies, too.
Scott can keep his nuts. Hehehe.
The Mrs Dash Chipotle is great on all veggies…I sprinkle it on potatoes or any other veggie I am roasting…I have about 4 flavors of Mrs D open at one one time…really can’t go wrong!
I definitely have a sweet tooth and my husband prefers savory things. Each week I think about which recipes to blog about, and each week I have to make a conscious effort to include some savory things. I always gravitate towards sweets! It’ll be interesting to see how my blog evolves over time…perhaps it will be all desserts eventually. :)
These roasted almonds sound amazing. I love the addition of rosemary, especially around this time of the year when the weather is getting colder. And your photos are beautiful!
I have to make SUCH a conscious effort to include some savory things, too. If I were to re-start my blog today, I would have chosen a dessert or a baking name for my blog and never bother with anything else. When I started it, had no idea…but yeah, today, it would be all desserts and baked stuff b/c I just have more fun with that. But the nuts are good :)
I’m with your husband – definitely prefer the savory over the sweet, and these look right up my alley!
Thanks, Amanda…I would have never guessed b/c all your baked desserts and sweets always look so amazing!!!!
It is essential that I pin these now. Great clicks too!! I am in love with the rosemary Marcona almonds at TJ’s…now I can make them myself!
You’re such a sweetheart and yes, make them yourself my dear…so easy. And a money saver!
Oh those look incredible. Love the idea of the rosemary paired with the chipotle. And I like the idea of using already smoked almonds for more flavor. Those would make fantastic holiday gifts.
“And yes, it was nutter-riffic taking pictures of these roasted nuts. <– Do you like a side of cheeseball with your nuts? I apparently do." YES – love seeing the cheeseball side to you ;-)
I can see such an improvement in photos from that older one you shared to now! Awesome choice of seasonings, totally up my alley. Just last week I was munching on some habenero bbq almonds- but I’d much rather make my own!
I loooooove roasted nuts! I’m a sucker for any flavor/variety, but my absolute favorites are the cinnamon sugar and the salt and vinegar. Mmmmm!
Oh man, those look so good! I might have to make some for the holidays.
I love ALL nuts. I guess if I had to pick a favorite, it would be cashews and almonds, but peanuts are amazing… I pick peanut butter. ;) I love them just as they are, but honey-roasted is delish, along with various other seasonings.
I have both a sweet and savory tooth… but probably more sweet, judging by how often I went to my kitchen last night for handfuls of puppy chow.
You have no idea how much I love rosemary. I have been putting it on everything!!!
Im reading your post now…with rosemary :)
These look scrumptious! I love the way you used the pine cones and rosemary, too – very rustic and festive!
thanks..I tried. Glad it translated and you noticed :)
well i think i get just as excited as scott! the smell of roasted nuts makes me giddy. haha. Those look wonderful too, the rosemary is perfect!
These look so amazing — I love rosemary and happen to have a little pot of it growing…I wonder how this would be on pecans?
I’m sort of addicted to nuts…I eat probably a cup of them every day — almonds, walnuts, and pecans are my usual treat…good fats and protein and so many other nutrients…you can’t go wrong! I like nuts IN my sweet baked goods — like pecans in pumpkin bread. It’s the best of both worlds!
Try it..pecans, walnuts, cashews, peanuts..whatever you have or like. And a lil pot of rosemary? Nice!
I love nuts every which way and those bad boys look sooooooooo good! ya man has good taste : )
Love the photos in this post – so full of light! I’m not a huge nut person (there’s no greater way to ruin a chocolate in my opinion than to add nuts!) but I think the combination of spices in these could make them very addictive!
They were so fun to photograph..thanks for the compliments :)