Maple Pepper Pecans Food

MAPLE-PEPPER BACON

Steps:

• Position wire racks on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Lay 1 pound bacon in a single layer on the racks and bake 7 minutes at 375 degrees F. Brush with maple syrup and continue baking until caramelized, about 25 minutes, flipping, brushing with syrup and seasoning with pepper every 5 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the racks.

PEPPER PECANS

Steps:

• In a large heavy skillet, over a medium heat, warm the oil. Stir in the sugar, salt, cayenne, and pepper. Mix well, until sugar starts to melt. Add the pecans and coat thoroughly.
• Drain the pecans on a baking sheet and cool.
• Store in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 2 weeks.

MAPLE PECAN BAKED BRIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Shave off the top rind of the Brie (it is easiest to do this after it has been in the freezer for about 20 minutes). If the Brie came in a wooden box, return it to the original container. If not, create a makeshift "box" out of a few layers of aluminum foil, leaving the top of the Brie exposed.
• Place the cheese on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until warm and gooey, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes before serving. Carefully transfer to a serving platter; you do not want the rind to puncture, if possible.
• While the Brie is cooling, make the praline sauce. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar, maple syrup, and pecans. Cook, stirring constantly, until all of the ingredients are well combined, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in coarsely ground black pepper and remove from heat. Allow the mixture to cool for 5 to 10 minutes, until it has thickened up just a bit. Dollop the warm sauce over the baked cheese. (There may be extra praline sauce.) Serve with assorted crackers.

MAPLE & ORANGE CHICKEN WITH PEPPERED PECANS

Steps:

• Mix orange juice, mustard, garlic, maple syrup, sunflower oil and vinegar in a bowl. Marinade chicken for at least 4 hours, but overnight is even better.
• For the pecans, melt the butter, and stir in tabasco, pepper flakes and garlic. Stir in the pecans. Spread onto a flat baking sheet and bake on a really low temp - approx 120C for an hour. Be careful that the pecans don't burn though.
• After marinading, remove the chicken and pour marinade into a small pan, bring to the boil, stirring until the marinade reduces to a sticky glaze. The oil will stop the Maple syrup from burning.
• Grill or barbecue the chicken breasts, turning and brushing with the glaze regularly until the chicken is cooked but still juicy.
• Serve the chicken with the remaining glaze as a sauce, along with the peppered pecans and whatever else takes your fancy.