Glazed Nuts for the Holidays

474.  How many parties have you been to where there are bowls of pretzels, chips, salted peanuts, Chex Mix and an occasional specialty chip or pretzel.  Now, to be clear, I love a good pretzel, chip or Chex Mix.  But, this holiday season why don't you deviate from the norm and place bowls of Glazed Nuts around the room.  Or, place a scoop in a cellophane bag and tie with a velvet ribbon to give as a take away.  It's up to you if you would include the recipe or not, "wink, wink".

You can make them salty or sweet. Trust me, once someone takes a taste, shares how great they are, there will be people congregating around the bowl in excited conversations.  As well as hearing, "What spices are on these nuts?" or "You have to give me this recipe!".

I remember being invited to a Christmas party at my friend JoAnn's house.  She got the memo and had these bowls of sweet glazed nuts around on side tables and within reach wherever you found yourself.  And of course, they were the conversation of the night.  

So, in honor of JoAnn and her perfect hosting, I give you my Glazed Nuts recipes.

It is your choice which nuts you use as each nut has its own wonderful flavor and enhances or clashes with the spices added.

And you can create a recipe of your own adding different spices, dried fruits or different salts.

I hope you try one of the recipes and it brings compliments from your guests.  

"Families are like fudge, mostly sweet but filled with nuts."

~ Unknown

"Today's oak tree is just yesterday's nut, that held it's ground."

~ David Icke

Oyster Snack Crackers

389.  This snack was at first, a very unusual one until I tasted these little round crackers of yumminess!!  Ladies that I knew many years ago had made this snack for a gathering and I have been a fan ever since.  I do love saltine crackers and these soup/oyster crackers are perfect for snacking.

The recipe is basic and so easy to make for any party or gathering.  I like to make them the day before, but that can be dangerous if they are hanging around the house for a whole day before an event.  And yes, I have had to go out a buy  a n o t h e r  bag of crackers to make the recipe a second time.  Somehow they all disappeared.

To save the recipe select and drag to desktop and print or copy and paste to document and print or select and print from smart device.

I followed the recipe to a tee but substituted the dill weed for lime zest!!!  Wow!  It was a great addition.

These would be great for a Super Bowl Party or any gathering.  

The origin of the term "oyster cracker" is unclear, but it may be that they were originally served with oyster stew or clam chowder or merely that they look like an oyster in its shell. Other names include "water cracker," "Philadelphia cracker," and "Trenton cracker"

-  Wikipedia

Nosh Snack Bar

329.  Nosh - noun;  early 20th century Yiddish; denoting a snack bar.   This post is my celebration of the "Nosh" display that is to me the perfect meal in itself.  What more could you need than cheese, nuts, great bread, fruit and veg.   It could be in any form, any type of cheese (Although brie to me is always a must) any type or grain of bread, whole loaf torn or cut to smaller pieces.  

The mix of salty, sweet, cheesy, brine-y, crunchy, soft, smooth and flavorful.  It is a perfect combination.  Your imagination, personal choices and creativity are the tools needed.

Start with fruit: grapes, figs, blueberry, strawberry, apples or pears, a walk down the special cheese & meat aisle in a deli or your local grocer.  Then stop in your local bakery and pick up a crusty bread freshly baked.  Many grocers have beautiful bread that is rustic and varied as well as a variety of olives and marinated veggies.  I love shopping at Fairway  or Wegmans Markets.  They have a beautiful selection of all of the above.  Add mustards, nuts, honey, jam, raisins, dates, crackers, bread sticks, wafers,  peanut or almond butter, mushrooms, infused olive oils, salsas and tapenade...and the list trails on.  You are only limited by the items you are able to obtain or items you've never experienced before.  Take risks, experiment new cheeses, breads, olives and other delicacies.  Lucero Olive Co. is a must: link Here.    You could go for a theme or ethnic slant such as Italian or Greek with cheeses, breads and meats or a sweet nosh as a dessert with fruit, honey, whipped cream and a variety of cake slices and tarts, fruit sauces and chocolate fudge sauce or caramel.

Then lay everything out on a large tray, multiple wooden slices or directly in the center of your table. All you need are your guests to pick, dip, spread and sample in a variety of creations.  Now this is noshing to me.  Add whatever music, movie or beverage you prefer that tops off this culinary experience.  It transports you from just eating to a satisfying adventure.

Make tonight a "nosh" night and enjoy!

"My whole artistic life has always been about change,

change, change, move on, move on.

It's the only thing I find interesting."

-Paul Simon