Candied Bacon And Curry Cashew Mix Food

SPICED CANDIED CASHEWS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Put the nuts, sugar, water, and salt into a large skillet over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently, and cook until the water is nearly evaporated and the liquid becomes syrupy, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix the spices together in a small bowl.
• After 10 minutes, sprinkle the spices over the nuts and stir well. Continue stirring constantly while the water evaporates completely, about 5 minutes. When there is no longer any sugar syrup left in the bottom of the pan, turn off the heat and stir the nuts vigorously but carefully in the pan until the sugar seizes up and the nuts are evenly coated with crystallized sugar.
• Turn the nuts out onto the lined baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Cool completely before sifting the excess sugar from the coated nuts and storing in an airtight container.
• Cook's Note: DO NOT touch the nuts at any time while cooking or just afterward. Cooked sugar is extremely hot and can burn instantly when touched.

SPICY CANDIED BACON

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar and 2 1/2 teaspoons gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes) and spread on a plate. Coat one 12-ounce package thick-cut bacon in the sugar mixture, pressing each slice on both sides to adhere.
• Lay the bacon on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 325˚ F, rotating the pan and flipping the bacon halfway through, until the bacon is dark brown and caramelized, 30 to 40 minutes. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds on both sides, then let cool completely to harden.

CANDIED CASHEWS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the cashews on a baking sheet and place in the oven. Toast the cashews for 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Be sure to watch the cashews carefully so they don't burn! Remove the cashews from the oven and cool. In a saucepan (copper works best), add the sugar and the water. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling and the sugar has dissolved, add the cashews. Continue cooking the mixture, stirring constantly. The sugar will thicken, and then become granular again, continue stirring. The sugar will then begin to turn back into a clear liquid. When all of the sugar has turned into a clear liquid, remove the pan from the heat, stirring constantly. Once the sugar begins to turn a golden color, spoon the nuts onto a parchment paper lined sheet pan. Allow to cool.;

CANDIED BACON

Steps:

• Cook bacon in 2 batches in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, turning over once, until bacon is lightly browned on edges but still flexible, 5 to 6 minutes total per batch. Transfer bacon as cooked to paper towels to drain.
• Pour off fat from skillet and arrange bacon in skillet in 1 layer. Sprinkle Demerara sugar over bacon and cook over low heat, turning occasionally with tongs, until sugar is dissolved, caramelized (sugar melts very slowly and burns easily; reduce heat if necessary after sugar begins to caramelize), and coats bacon, 8 to 10 minutes. (Bacon will be dark and look lacquered.) Transfer bacon with tongs to brown paper to cool.

CANDIED BACON CASHEWS

Steps:

• Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and heat until boiling. Add the cashews and stir continuously. When the water evaporates and the sugar is caramelized, stir in the bacon. Turn off the heat and add the bacon fat and butter, and smoked salt to taste Transfer to greased cookie sheet to cool, then break apart.