candied pecans

i've made so many salads with candied nuts and pecans, so here is the post on how to make them. i'm doing this so i can link this to all the salad recipes i've made with this ingredient! you can use either walnuts or pecans.

Adapted from the "Fresh Market and Friends" cookbook

...I l leave out cayenne pepper and only make 1/3 the recipe if I know I won't be using the whole batch-usually only about 1/3 is needed for a salad
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This is such an easy and yummy addition to a salad :)

1/2 cup sugar
3 T water
7/8 t salt
1/2 t cayenne pepper (I omit this ingredient)
3 C pecan (or walnut) halves

Preheat oven to 350. Butter a heavy large baking sheet. Combine sugar, water and salt in a small saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Boil 2 minutes. Add walnuts (or pecans) and stir until nuts are coated with mixture, about 1 minute. Transfer nuts to prepared sheet, spreading evenly. Bake until nuts are just beginning to brown, about 13 minutes. Transfer to a sheet of foil or waxed paper and quickly separate pecans with a fork. Cool completely. Store in an airtight container up to 1 week.