One of my dearest traditions is making sugared pecans for friends, coworkers, family and random strangers during the holidays. (gave a bag away to a friendly post office worker last week)
I’m ready to send a bag of scrumptiousness to TWO readers TODAY!! They will be chosen tonight and mailed out tomorrow – probably not in time for Christmas, but before the new year.
And here’s the recipe for anybody who doesn’t win. It’s ridiculously easy.
- Combine one egg white and one TB water. Beat until foamy.
- Add 1 lb pecans (some people like to use walnuts) and coat them until wet.
- In separate bowl, combine one cup sugar, one TB cinnamon and one tsp salt.
- Pour sugar combo over the wet pecans to coat them.
- Spread on greased cookie sheet in shallow layer.
- Bake at 275 for 45 minutes. Turn once about halfway through.
VOILA! Yummy yummy amazing holiday goodness!!
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment about YOUR favorite holiday tradition, new or old, or one you’ve heard about and would like to try. Ready, set, go!!!!!
And the winners are….Ashley and Jessie! Send me your snail mail addresses right away and I’ll get your (New Years) nuts to you by next week!
foodfoodbodybody 
December 22, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Oh YUMMY! Oh dear – both naughty & nice – perrrrrrrrfect! My fav holiday tradition? I’m thinking of my grandma’s teaball cookies — yes — they have pecans – I just may have to bust them out! I think there are only 5 ingredients..
Hugs to you!
December 22, 2010 at 1:04 pm
What I’d really like to win is a wall with you. I’m here all break with no family 26 – 30 and catching up with friends is on my list.
December 22, 2010 at 1:10 pm
you’ve won!!!!!!! You got it!!!!! I have time during that period too. Let’s DO IT! Although I assume you meant “walk” not walll. LOL!
December 22, 2010 at 2:34 pm
oh yeah walk, not wallll darn iphone and isight!
December 22, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Old Traditions:
On the eight nights of Chanuka – hiding the presents every night and then playing “hot and cold” with the kids to find them.
Getting wiped out of all my gelt by Jake and Susan when playing spin the dreidel.
New tradition I have heard about and would like to try:”eating Ito’s sugary pecans.
December 22, 2010 at 1:05 pm
My favorite tradition is being the “roux maker” at my mom’s house. Gumbo is one of my favorite Christmas components!! The roux is THE most important part of the gumbo, so I always felt special being trusted to make it 🙂
December 22, 2010 at 1:34 pm
I started a new one with my children. Every year, a little bit before Christmas, we invite abunch of their friends over for a Christmas crafting and baking party where they paint, build, glue, bake and otherwise make their own gifts to give to parents, teachers, grandparents, friends and neighbors.
December 22, 2010 at 1:36 pm
When I was growing up, my grandmother made 26 different kinds of cookies (dozens of each kind) for Christmas. She was a farmer. She lived in her farm for over 60 years, never took a vacation, never saw the ocean, and only ever saw one movie, Gone With the Wind, in a theater. She grew her own food, raised her own animals and embodied the saying “there’s no place like home.”
She passed away in 2003, and I’m trying to carry on her cookie tradition. I’m not nearly as good a baker as she, but my cookies have soul. I miss her every day.
December 22, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Every year we get as much of our extended family together for Christmas. We are all spread out over the US so its usually slightly different every year.
For stockings, a day or two before Christmas we put all our names in a stocking and draw names. We then take $25 and our randomly drawn name and we all descend on a mall for 2 or 3 hours (set time) and we have to buy as many gifts as we can (at least 5) and spend ALL the money (all of it, no change) and then we all head back home together and Christmas morning there are just TONS of gifts billowing out of all the stockings. We have one person open all their stocking stuffers and get one guess as to who their santa is. We’ve been doing it almost 10 years its very fun.
And I am writing this on behalf of my Dad who would Love some sugary nuts…or something….less awkward. =)
December 22, 2010 at 2:21 pm
My favorite holiday tradition is watching Christmas Story and National Lampoons Xmas Vacation and eating pizza with my family sometime before Christmas. My other favorite pastime is waking my entire household up at like 6:30 on Christmas morning. No matter how old I get, I still have the same excitement as when I was 10.
December 22, 2010 at 2:39 pm
It’s not a tradition (I hope), but my wife and I are dieting this holiday season–concentrating on green veggies, low-sugar fruits and chicken/turkey/fish. So far, pretty good. That being said, I sure wouldn’t turn away your sugared pecans. 🙂
December 22, 2010 at 4:33 pm
David, don’t say diet. Diet is a 4 letter word! Say “lifestyle change.” 😉 Which can include some pecans now and again. 🙂
December 22, 2010 at 3:46 pm
I can tell you on good authority that these are THE. BEST!
Thank you so much for all my things, I loved it all!
December 22, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Um, I want to win! =) Hmmm…family traditions are fun..and many of them are related to pecans. I make pecan pralines! I’ll trade you. I love that idea. 🙂
December 22, 2010 at 4:44 pm
what a “nut”ty contest! ..groan/ugh, I know. Anyway, everyone always wants to open just one present on Christmas Eve… “aww, c’mon Mom, just one!?”. Anyway, each year everyone is allowed to open just one and it is very cheesy, Christmas-decorated Pajamas to wear that night and for present opening Christmas morning. Even as teenagers, they still don the cheesiness. Years of cute photos. 🙂 . P’Can I have the sweet sugared treats, Please?
December 22, 2010 at 4:53 pm
we do the cheesy pajama Xmas eve tradition, too!! It’s the best!
December 25, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Has anyone tried this recipe with Splenda? Wonder if it would still be good. Think I”ll try. Will let you know how the experiment worked
December 28, 2010 at 9:28 pm
I have an addiction to candied pecans. I use them in EVERYTHING (fruit crisps, granola, salads of every kind) and of course I eat them plain. I make a similar recipe but sometimes I use a little vanilla (if I’m going for a sweeter result) or some coriander and chili powder (if I want something a little more savory). Thanks for sharing your recipe and beautiful photos.
December 29, 2010 at 12:22 pm
The nuts look lovely. And that is SOOOOO sweet to give them to random strangers!!! Hope you have a great 2011, I look forward to lots of your blog posts in the following year!!!