Sugar and Spice Mixed Nuts

We were going to a Holiday party Saturday night and I realized that afternoon that I didn't have a hostess gift - it was too late to go shopping so I whipped up these sugar and spice nuts from ingredients in the pantry, made a quickie label and put them in a cute Christmas jar I found in my wrapping stuff. Great idea if you have any last minute gift needs (or just want them for yourself, they're slightly addictive I gotta say...).

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 Tablespoon water
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt, plus additional for sprinkling 
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/8 teaspoon allspice
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup pecans (I used raw nuts for this recipe)
• 1 cup whole almonds
• 1 cup walnuts

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 250'.

In a large bowl mix together the egg white, sugar, spices.

Add the nuts and stir until coated.

Spread evenly onto a greased cookie sheet or baking pan.

Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

Spread out on parchment paper and sprinkle while still hot with additional coarse salt.

I also did a few leftover pumpkin seeds to see how they'd turn out and they are yummy too - good to know (and Dave can eat them so he's happy...the house smells really good when the nuts are baking so he's always jealous he can't try them!).