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!

Sweet and Spicy Pecans #reluctantentertainer #nuts #recipe

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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!

5 Days Entertaining

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?

Sweet and Spicy Pecans #reluctantentertainer #nuts #recipe
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Sweet and Spicy Pecans

This makes a large batch of nuts, which you can freeze, give away as gifts, use in appetizers, salads, on side dishes, or even as a topping on a dessert or ice cream.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Yield: 32 ounces
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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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