I will never forget when I started my catering company and offered sweet and spicy peanuts as one of the gift items. I had to toss peanuts for days, but they were delicious! Although I don't suggest that you mix quite as many as I did in the early years of my career, I do suggest you toss a few of these delights for the occasion.

　　

Ingredients

Makes 10 servings

　　2 tablespoons olive oil

　　6 cups whole, blanched almonds

　　1/3 cup honey

　　2 teaspoons smoked paprika

　　2 teaspoons cinnamon

　　2 teaspoons cumin

　　2 teaspoons cayenne

　　2 tablespoons salt

　　4 tablespoons sesame seeds

　　

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

　　

Step 2

2. Heat a large sauté pan on high, and add olive oil. Add almonds to pan, toast for 1 minute stirring often, and reduce heat to low. Continue to stir until the almonds are light golden brown, 6-7 minutes. Add honey and spices, salt and sesame seeds and stir to coat evenly.

　　

Step 3

3. Spread nuts out evenly on to a large sheet tray and place in the oven until honey is dry, 10-15 minutes. Allow nuts to cool before serving.

　　Excerpted from the book Katie Brown Celebrates: Simple and Spectacular Parties All Year Round. © 2008 by Katie Brown. Reprinted with permission of Little, Brown and Company, NY. All rights reserved.