Instead of paying a premium for little packages of candied nuts in the store, try making them yourself this holiday season.  They're quick and easy, and you can vary the spices from sweet to spicy to ethnic to satisfy any palate.  And by making them at home, you side-step all the additional processing, packaging, and shipping required to get them into your grocery store.  

These sweet and spicy nuts are perfect for your Thanksgiving table as a snack, a salad garnish, or a pie topping.

Sweet and Spicy Candied Nuts

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup dark-brown sugar
• 2/3 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pound whole or halved nuts of your choice (I like pecans and walnuts best)
• 1 egg white, room temperature

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with a silpat or grease it very well.
2. Mix the spices together in one bowl, and gently whip the egg white in another.  Be careful not to get yolk in the white, or it won't whip as well.  You want it to be frothy and bubbly, but not stiff.
3. Add the nuts to the egg white and stir to coat.  Pour the eggy nuts into the bowl of sugar and spices and stir to coat completely.  
4. Spread entire mixture on prepared baking sheet.  Bake for 30-45 minutes, turning once during cooking.  After 30 minutes, check every 5 minutes, because the sugar mixture will burn quickly.  When the egg/spice mixture has turned into a hard candy shell around the nuts and become a deep brown color, they're done.
5. Separate nuts while hot and let cool.  They will keep well in a sealed container on the counter.