Kristis Sugared Pecans Food

SUGARED PECANS

Steps:

• Mix sugar, margarine and milk into pot. Cook until mixture reaches soft ball stage (234 degrees) and forms a ball in a cup of cold water.
• Remove from heat. Add pecans.
• Stir until all pecans are well coated.
• Pour onto waxed paper.
• Separate pecans into individual pieces, using 2 tablespoons.

JERRY'S SUGARED PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with sides with aluminum foil. Pour the butter onto the lined sheet. In a large bowl, mix the egg whites, sugar and cinnamon. Add the pecan halves and toss until they are fully coated. Spread the pecans onto the baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring the pecans every 10 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

CANDIED PECANS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small saucepan, bring the sugar and 3/4 cup water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, then add the pecans and cook until glossy, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to the prepared baking sheet and let cool.

SPICED VANILLA PECANS

Steps:

• Note: If you don't have superfine sugar (in Britspeak: caster sugar) then you can whirl regular granulated sugar in the food processor for about 5 minutes.
• You can skip this and just use granulated sugar, but please make sure it dissolves completely before leaving the pecans to sit.
• In a large pot, boil the pecans in the water for 1 minute.
• Drain well.
• While they're still hot, toss them in a large bowl with the sugar, melted butter, corn syrup and vanilla extract.
• Mix well and let the nuts sit, covered, for at least 12 hours, up to 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven the 325 degrees F.
• Put the nuts on a cookie sheet (make sure it's rimmed so the nuts don't fall off).
• Bake the nuts for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
• The nuts should brown nicely.
• I know, they are brown already, what I mean is that they should be a little darker, and crisp looking.
• However, they won't actually get crisp until they cool.
• Meanwhile, combine all the spices in a large bowl.
• The minute, the actual instant that the nuts are done, add them to the spices and toss them until they are well covered.
• Pat the nuts back down on the cookie sheet in a single layer, so they can cool without clumping together.
• Cool thoroughly, and store in an airtight container.

SOUTHERN CINNAMON SUGARED PECANS

Steps:

• In a large sauce pan over medium heat, combine evaporated milk, sugar, water and vanilla.
• Heat mixture, stirring often, until sugar is dissolved.
• Add cinnamon and stir. Some may float on top.
• Add 3 cups of pecans to mixture and stir to cover.
• Continue stirring pecans in mixture until pecans become coated well and mixture cooks away (gets absorbed/crystalized on the the pecans).
• Spread hot coated pecans on wax paper; try to separate them as you spread them on the paper.
• Let pecans cool completely.
• Break apart pecans and store in air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.
• To give as gifts, put in decorative glass jars or decorative tins lined with wax paper.
• NOTE: I've tried using brown sugar (1:1 with the white sugar), but the pecans have a tendency to come out sticky and the sugars don't get 'crystalized'. I have not tried these with turbinado or unbleached cane sugar yet. If they don't turn out right, I'll have to keep them for myself !

SPICED SUGARED PECANS

Steps:

• Combine sugar, cinnamon and milk in a saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Boil to the soft ball stage (234 degrees on candy thermometer). Using a slotted or wooden spoon, add vanilla and pecan halves.
• Stir until pecans are thoroughly coated, then spread on wax paper.
• If pecans tend to stick together, as soon as they are cool enough, break apart and let cool completely.

KRISTI'S SUGARED PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Bake pecans on cookie sheet for 30 minutes. Remove pecans from pan, and put butter on cookie sheet.
• Increase the oven temperature to 300 degrees F. Melt butter on cookie sheet in oven.
• Beat egg whites until they form soft peaks. Slowly add sugar and salt, while continuing to beat. Beat until egg whites thicken. Fold in pecans.
• Spread mixture evenly on the cookie sheet with butter. Bake in 300 degree F oven for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
• Cool pecans. Serve. Store in airtight container.