Holiday Menu with Sweet and Spicy Pecans
Today’s Sweet and Spicy Pecans are perfect served with my Beauchamp Orchard Salad recipe for the holidays! Also, enjoy a complete Holiday Menu of recipes!
We’re all familiar with Julia Child and her famous quote, “No matter what happens in the kitchen, never apologize.” A couple years ago I wrote a 5-part series on “no apologizing” for the holiday season, and why apologizing in the kitchen hurts us.
Apologizing for our culinary mistakes, or anything that goes wrong with the meal, only draws attention to ourselves, and pulls away from the enjoyment of the meal.
Looking good.
I think we worry too much about looking good in the eyes of others, so when a mishap happens in the kitchen, our first thought is on ourselves and what others will think of us. One of the best gifts I’ve learned is to finally be able to laugh at my own mistakes, and realize that I really do not need to apologize to anyone. Cooking mistakes happen! Laugh and let go!
Holiday menu.
I’ve included some yummy holiday recipes in this 5-part series; an overall delicious holiday menu!
Day 1: The Purpose of the Home, Roasted Grapes & Fresh Rosemary
Day 2: Culinary Mistakes and Beauchamp Orchard Salad
Day 3: Learning to be Authentic and Pesto Baked Potatoes
Day 4: Don’t Plan for Perfection and Crusted Pepper Prime Rib
Day 5: Laugh at Your Mistakes with Holiday Poached Pears
My story.
Years ago, after I was married with 3 little kids running around, we had 2 other couples over for dinner. I was so excited to cook a certain dish, easy to prepare, and an overall crowd pleaser.
In my rushing around to pull it all together, I neglected to pre-cook the chicken, as the recipe called for. I put all the ingredients together in the pan, stuck it in the oven, and arranged for it to come out just in time to serve it to our guests. When I went to serve the food, I thought to myself, “Wow! Look how pretty these plates look!” Well, the chicken was undercooked and very pink inside. Oops! I was embarrassed and I felt sick inside. I had to take each plate back and individually microwave them.
Honestly, I don’t think our guests even cared! Here I was, all worried about what they thought of me, when in reality they were having a blast around the table, and the undercooked chicken wasn’t even an issue.
Never apologize.
Early on my husband tried to help me, “Sandy, never apologize for your meal!” Finally I caught on to what he was saying, but it took some time to get it through my head that we all make mistakes, and smart, healthy people learn from them and move on!
It actually was a relief to finally “get this” and not draw attention to myself!
What to do.
I now take a new route if something is undercooked or overcooked, by checking it before I serve it! Obviously, I’ll microwave it quick if it’s undercooked. Or come up with a quick sauce, if something is overcooked. It happens!
Sweet and spicy pecans.
So that is my “apologizing” tip for today, plus I’m sharing this yummy Sweet and Spicy Pecans Recipe, that are delicious served as an appetizer, or on a salad, sweet potato dish, or even a dessert. They are that good!
Do you struggle with “looking good,” and perfectionism over the holidays?
Get the Recipe:
Sweet and Spicy Pecans
Ingredients
- 2 16-oz. bags of pecans
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
- 2 Tbsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. cayenne
- 1 egg white
- 1 Tbsp. water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 225 degrees.
- Place pecans in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and cayenne.
- Beat the egg white and water until frothy. Pour egg mixture over pecans and toss to coat. Pour the dry ingredients onto the pecans and toss again until evenly coated.
- Spread evenly in a roasting pan and bake for 1 1/2 hours.
- Allow to cool, stirring occasionally so pieces don’t clump together. Store at room temperature in an airtight container up to 1 months.
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Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
Hot and spicy with a hint of brown-sugar sweetness, these snacking nuts are simply sensational.and pecans nuts really god for health.Thanks for sharing i like that.
Larry and I hosted a poker night for a big group of couple friends years ago when the kids were babies…I made a recipe for the first time using phyllo dough, put too much butter and smoked out the whole kitchen! SO embarrassing!! I learned from that! LOL
I’m sure I apologized a million times that night (and other nights). :)
I love these nuts!! I would eat way more than I should :)
Hi Sandy! Looking forward to making these for my family and the neighbors! :) A perfect home was something I had always wished for, because magazines said I could! LOL!!! :-D I am 50+ years old, now I shoot for clean and cozy!! Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family!
My mother in law gave me a recipe for spiced pecans a few years ago and I lost it. Looks like I have a replacement! I love your idea for the holiday dinner menu. You always have such great content to share! Thank you!
You truly offer the wisdom of the ages. Your advice is inspirational and your blog is such a delight to peruse!
Yum….looks cook. I love candied nuts!
I really think I have given up on the “it has to be perfect” mindset. I just let it be what it is…that’s not to say I don’t put effort in or make things look nice, but I let go of the expectation of what others will think, because ultimately I will never please everyone.