Candied Cactus Food

CLASSIC CANDIED YAMS

Steps:

• Cut the sweet potatoes crosswise into 1-inch-thick rounds. Halve or quarter any extra-large pieces so that they are all similar in size.
• Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt in a small bowl. Add the sugar mixture to the Dutch oven and whisk until it forms a paste. Add the potatoes and stir well, spooning the sugar mixture over the potatoes to coat evenly.
• Cover and cook the potatoes, stirring occasionally and gently to avoid breaking them up, until they are just tender when pierced with the tip of a knife and the sauce resembles a thin syrup, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and toast until dark brown with a light scent of roasted nuts, about 8 minutes. Season the pecans with some salt while warm, let them cool completely and coarsely chop.
• Transfer the potatoes with their sauce to a large serving platter and sprinkle the pecans over the top.

CACTUS CANDY

Steps:

• Select prickly pear cactus. Remove spines and outside layer(skin) with large knife(this can be bought already spined in stores).I found this at Walmart!. Cut pulp across in slices one-inch thick.
• Soak overnight in cold water. Remove from water, cut in 1" cubes and cook in boiling water til tender. Drain.
• Heat the sugar and water until sugar is dissolved. Then add cactus. Cook slowly in the syrup until nearly all the syrup is absorbed. Do not scorch! Remove cactus from syrup, drain and roll in granulated or powdered sugar. For colored cactus candy, any vegetable food coloring may be added to the syrup.

CANDIED CACTUS

Steps:

• Clean off any spines and glochids (the little hairy spines) from your cactus paddles; peel green skin and cube into 1 x 1/2 inch pieces.
• Soak overnight in cold water.
• Drain very well.
• Make a syrup of sugar, water and fruit juices; add cactus and cook until syrup is nearly all absorbed, taking caution not to scorch.
• May be tinted with food coloring if desired.

CANDIED SPICED NUTS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a medium size heavy skillet. Heat over medium-high heat to boiling.
• Cook, stirring constantly, until all of the liquid is evaporated and nuts are coated and sugary (approximately 5 minutes).
• Transfer to a non-stick baking sheet; break nuts apart while still warm. Let cool.