There is no such thing as a boring salad in my house; I won’t allow it!  I love love love a full salad with lots of vegetables to brighten it up but I don’t stop there.  With extra additions like nuts and seeds, and whatever else I can add for some extra flavor or nutrition to polish it off, it’s going in!

Today’s recipe is one of those additions; a tiny little snack so delicious they are getting a blog post all to themselves.  I give you my perfectly scrumptious candied pecans.

This is a recipe I have been asked for more times than any other.  It’s not often I don’t have a jar of these candied pecans on hand in my pantry and for good reason; these are incredible!  And addictive!  I throw these into my salads all the time and have to restrain myself from eating handfuls each time I open that pantry door.  And I absolutely have to hide them on Mairead or she will eat them all (and has, more than once).

This recipe does NOT double easily so if you need a lot you’ll have to make them in small batches.  No worries though, they take only a few minutes to whip up and are not at all difficult.  However they do burn easily so keep a close eye and they will turn out just fine.  Enjoy!

Candied Pecans

Ingredients

1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 cup pecan halves

Directions

Lay out a sheet of parchment paper; set aside.

In a frying pan set to medium low heat, add brown sugar, olive oil and balsamic vinegar; stir until fully blended.

Stirring constantly allow mixture to thicken, about 2-3 minutes.  Do not allow to smoke or burn!

Add pecans and continue stirring slowly, allowing pecans to toast, about 5-6 minutes.  Again, do not allow to smoke or burn!

Once “candied” transfer pecans to the prepared parchment paper and separate while still hot.

Add to salads, ice cream, popcorn and more!  Enjoy!

By Three Happy Folk