Saturday, November 26, 2011

Toffee Nuts, a.k.a. "NYC Street Nuts"

If you've never had the opportunity to try the nuts that the street vendors of NYC sell you are severely missing out on a wonderful taste experience.  If you have tried them, you're probably hopelessly addicted like the rest of my family and finish the tiny bag they come in within ten minutes of purchasing them from the questionable man at the street cart.  These nuts are deceptively easy and only consist of three ingredients and take less than fifteen minutes to make.  They also make a perfect gift for the holidays, or throughout the year for a generous hostess.  
Here's my first food tutorial.  Feedback is greatly appreciated.  
Good luck!

Pour two cups of your nut of choice (or a mix) into a large skillet.
Add one cup sugar.

Then add 1/3 cup water.


Stir the mixture at a medium temperature.  If it's bubbling, you're doing it right.  


Keep stirring until it really starts to bubble.


Keep heating and stirring until it the sugar resembles wet sand, almost gritty.


Turn down the heat and keep stirring until they look how you would like them too.  The longer they remain in the pan, the glassier looking the finished product will be. Once the nuts look how you would like them to, add the seasoning.  Cinnamon and other such seasonings can burn quickly, so add them only at the end and watch for smoke.  If it does start to smoke, just remove the pan from the heat and keep stirring.


Remove from heat and pour on a baking sheet to cool.


Here are two different versions of how your nuts could turn out.


Ingredients:
2 cups raw nuts
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
cinnamon or other seasoning (optional)

1.  Pour nuts, sugar and water in a large skillet.
2.  Cook at a medium temperature, stirring frequently. 
3.  When the sugar mixture becomes gritty and resembles 
wet sand, continue stirring but turn down the heat a bit.
4.  Continue stirring until the desired texture is achieved.
5.  Add optional seasoning. If the nuts begin to smoke, remove
from heat and stir vigorously.
6.  Remove from heat and spread on a cookie sheet.

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