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!
I love nuts. And nut butters. Rosemary is the boyfriend’s favorite herb! Perhaps he’ll get me a mixer if I make him these! Just kidding, he bought me a mixer last year. But perhaps I’ll get some awesome accessories. Or a dehydrator!
I don’t think your photos could be any more tempting… and I’m not even a savory nut fan! Serious yumminess going on here!
I hope you’ll stop by and see my SRC post for Honey Vinaigrette Marinated Grilled Chicken.
:)
ButterYum
https://butteryum.blogspot.com/2011/11/honey-vinaigrette-grilled-chicken.html
Thanks for the compliments!
I LOVE nuts! I add walnuts to my oatmeal every morning and love LARABARs and things with nuts in them, especially nut butters of course :). If I snack on any nuts, it’s almost always almonds (I love pistachios but have to have them salted and try to avoid too much sodium. Plus pistachios are just one thing I have no portion control around, so it’s safer for me to ignore them!).
I really love almonds, but my body refuses to digest them. So I stick to peanuts and cashews. Honey roasted peanuts are the best! But that could be because I’m totally a sweets person. I hate salt and can’t tolerate much of it anyway, and am just not really down with savory stuff anyway.
As I mentioned, I have to be realllllly careful too with too many nuts or my body is not happy with me. And we’re the same with salt, too.
Your pictures are so getting me in the mood for winter!
Stay warm!
What a perfect treat and just in time for the holiday entertaining season. This is a great pick for the SRC! Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful week.
Miz Helen
https://mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com/2011/11/brussels-sprouts-salad-with-warm-bacon.html
Thanks for always leaving me comments on SRC reveal day…you’re so sweet!
Why do we ALL have minds of 4th graders?!?
P.S. How do you join the Secret Recipe Club? Or is it a secret?
You can go to the link I gave for it in the post and apply to join!
there’s nothing quite like the smell of roasted nuts…these look and sound fantastic! Your photos are beautiful, as usual :) And I too love receiving homemade gifts…so unique and fun!
Thanks, Rachel :)
He’s really glad that you aren’t roasting his. Just kidding. Those look so good. I love cumin and chipotle roasted cashews or salt and pepper pistachios.
Oh, and I love sweets. too much.
Yum, yum, yum! I love nuts and like either sweet or savory and also like both together!
Keeping the joke to myself. TRYING. I’m being so good. SO good.
Those nuts looks awesome. SORRY.
Glad to know you have a gutter mind. We’ll hit it off even better once we do meet up IRL one day :)
xo
Roasted nuts ALWAYS remind me of the holidays. These look perfect!
Thanks for the roasted almonds recipe! I have been looking for a way to roast some almonds my mother gave me (20 lbs!). Your recipe looks yummy! The presentation in your pictures is beautiful too! The pine cones are a nice touch.
I hope you get a Kitchen Aid, too! I love mine. My husband got it on clearance because the beater was missing–but then we found it in the box! Lucky me!
That’s an awesome score. Enjoy yours!!
Yay! I’m in your Secret Recipe Group! How about that? :)
I’m with Scott on the savory thing too. I love baking sweets, but love eating all that is savory. These roasted almonds looks delicious. Beautiful photos too – loving the pine cones as props!
We’re Food & Light buddies and SRC buddies. How ironic that I linked that pic of F & L and the nuts from our last day of class in this post ?!
Yum! These look delicious, and such gorgeous photos! Love the commentary…I had the same problem when writing about cake balls.
LOL :) Balls & nuts.
yum! i love these for homemade gifts of t-day appetizers.
i don’t really like nuts, especially in baked goods. no need for them to be all up in my carrot cake. BUT, a good roasted or candied nut, i am bound to enjoy.
and i am most definitely a sweet palate. i could take our leave a bag of potato chips all day, but put dessert in front of me and it’s over.