I am not a crafty person. I’m creative, in terms of dreaming up plot twists and developing characters, but the closest I usually get to designing gorgeous gifts or beautiful centerpieces is adding pictures I love with instructions I probably can’t follow to my Pinterest boards. I’m in awe of people who have that kind of talent.
But I can follow simple recipes—emphasis on simple—and a few years ago, my sister-in-law, who always hosts Christmas with a dazzling display of gourmet foods and stunning decorations, served a nut mix that I just couldn’t get enough of. And hey, it’s nuts—a good-for-you food, packed with protein, omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Even with the seasonings, it’s a healthy choice compared to most baked treats.
So I asked her for the recipe, and now around the holidays, I make huge batches to share with friends and family. It’s both spicy and sweet, and—warning—highly addictive. I buy cute jars with chalkboard labels to package them in and add little tags with a personal note. If you’d like to give it a try, please find the recipe below!
2 ½ cups of assorted unsalted nuts. I use cashews, almonds, walnuts, and pecans.
2 T fresh rosemary, coarsely chopped
½ t cayenne pepper. Use less or leave out if you’re averse to spicy.
2 t dark brown sugar
2 t sea salt
1 T unsalted butter, melted
Spread the nuts on a baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Mix the remaining ingredients. Toss the nuts with the mixture in a large bowl. Enjoy!
A jar of these would make a great gift, maybe even paired with a book! Reading is a proven stress-reliever, and we can all use that during the busy holiday season. It’s easy to gift an e-book to someone via email, and it often costs less than the price of a card! My latest novel is The Haunting of Hillwood Farm, a ghost mystery/romantic suspense that recently won the RONE Award at InD’Tale Magazine for Best Paranormal 2019! This title was also named Best Romantic Suspense of 2018 by N.N. Light’s Book Heaven Reviews, one of the Top 3 Best Books of 2019 at Read Free.ly, and a Top 40 Pick of the Best Paranormal Romances of all time at Reedsy. If you--or readers on your list--enjoy some spooky suspense mixed with romance, please check out the blurb below! (This title along with others also available as an audio book!)
After tragedy strikes, Callie Sinclair is left with a gift she never wanted—the ability to communicate with ghosts. But when a desperate widow begs for her help, she reluctantly agrees to investigate the strange occurrences at Hillwood Farm. She quickly realizes she’s dealing with a dangerous presence beyond anything she’s ever experienced, and something else becomes equally clear—the only other living person in the house, Mrs. Turner’s handsome grandson, thinks she’s a scam artist. While she’d prefer to just ignore him, her heart beats a little faster every time he’s nearby.
Luke Turner doesn’t believe in spirits. He’s moved back to restore the family farm, but living on the property serves a dual purpose—he can watch out for his grandmother. He’s not happy about the sudden appearance of a self-described psychic, or his inexplicable attraction to her. His initial suspicions crumble as evidence points to an actual haunting, but he’s still determined not to fall for Callie—the past has taught him it’s best to avoid relationships.
As Callie is drawn deeper into the mystery, she becomes the target of a vengeful spirit, and Luke can no longer fight his feelings for her. Unable to resist their desire, passion ignites…even as the paranormal activity escalates to a final deadly confrontation.
