Spicy Sweet Asian Nut Mix Rachael Ray Food

SPICY O-NUTS

Steps:

• Heat 1-inch vegetable oil of moderate to medium high heat. If you wish to test the oil, add a 1-inch cube of bread to hot oil. If it turns deep golden brown in color in a count of 40, the oil is ready.
• Trim ends of onion and peel. Cut into 3/4-inch slices and separate rings.
• Mix together pancake mix and beer, season with paprika, chili powder and cayenne pepper or hot sauce. Batter should be thick. If it gets too thick, add a splash more beer. Working in small batches of 5 to 6 slices, coat rings of onion in batter and fry 4 to 5 minutes, until evenly golden brown. Turn onions over so that both sides get puffed and cooked. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Season o-nuts with salt while hot. Repeat with remaining ingredients. When all the onions are dipped and fried, turn off oil to cool before discarding.

CHILE-CINNAMON BRITTLE WITH MIXED NUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Toast the almonds, hazelnuts and peanuts on a small baking sheet until fragrant and golden. Cool. Line a baking sheet with parchment and tear an extra piece of the same size. Reserve. Halve and scrape the vanilla beans, then add the seeds and pods to a pot with the toasted nuts, sugar, honey, corn syrup, salt and butter. Place the pot over high heat and stir until caramel in color. Then stir in the chile powder and cinnamon. Remove the vanilla pods with a fork and pour the brittle onto the lined baking sheet. Top with the extra parchment and roll out to an even layer, about 1/2 inch thick. Cool and break into irregular pieces.

HOLIDAY SPICED NUTS

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet and cook nuts over moderate heat 7 to 8 minutes until golden and well toasted ¿ your nose will know when they are done. Transfer nuts to a plate and return pan to stove top. Add butter to the pan in small pieces. Melt butter and spice it with anise, cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg. Let butter infuse a minute then pour over nuts. Turn off heat. Add smoked nuts to the skillet and turn to combine evenly with butter.

SPICY NUT MIX

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine nuts and oil until nuts are well-coated. Add hot sauce and stir well to coat.
• In a separate, small bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Add to nut mixture and stir well to coat.
• Turn nuts onto rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment or Silpat and bake, stirring ingredients two or three times, 15 minutes.
• Remove and transfer to another baking sheet to cool. Store in an airtight container.

CHEESE-STUFFED HOT DOGS WITH SPICY ONIONS - RACHAEL RAY

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Make a slit lengthwise down each frank, being careful not to cut all the way through.
• Place the grill seasoning and franks in a plastic bag; shake to coat.
• Place the franks on a baking sheet and stuff each with 2 or 3 strips of cheese.
• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook until softened and golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the brown sugar, chipotle, adobo sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.
• Butter the insides of the buns and place up on the baking sheet with the franks. Broil until the cheese melts and the buns are toasted, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Assemble the hot dogs and top with the caramelized onions.

SWEET SESAME BALLS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat the oil until a deep-frying thermometer reads 350°.
• In a saucepan, bring 1 cup water to a boil; stir in the brown sugar until dissolved. Place the rice flour in a medium bowl and, using a fork, stir in the sugar syrup until a sticky dough forms.
• Place the sesame seeds in a bowl. Using your hands, roll about 2 tablespoons dough into a ball.
• Roll the ball in the sesame seeds; repeat with the remaining dough.
• When the oil is hot, working in batches, fry the sesame balls until golden brown, about 4 minutes per batch.
• Transfer the sesame balls to a paper-towel-lined plate. Serve with the warm honey.

SEVIYAN - SWEET ASIAN VERMICELLI (TOASTED)

Steps:

• Place oil in a medium sauce pan, break the vermicelli into inch-long pieces (I find it easy to lay on a chopping board & slice with a large chefs knife) and add to the pan.
• Cook the vermicelli over a medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the vermicelli has browned to a walnut colour - about 5 minutes, add the milk and almonds.
• Gently bash the cardamom pods with a rolling pin or bottom of a heavy pan to release the seeds. Add the seeds to the cooking pan & add the sugar.
• Cover and cook for 20 to 25 minutes over medium heat. The vermicelli will begin to soak up the milk. Check every 5 minutes to see how much milk has been absorbed & be careful to stir occasionally.
• When the milk is almost completely absorbed, turn the heat as low as will go & cook with the lid off for around 10 minutes or until the noodles are separated.
• Serve warm in small bowls topped with the pistachios. To make this a creamy dessert, you can also spoon over a little single cream or evaporated milk!
• (If using the mixed fruit & nut add half of it at the time when the almonds are added & the remainder to decorate like the pistachios).