Cookies Preferences
This was another one of my mother’s specialties, maybe hailing originally from Union Square Café? These were brought out over the holidays because she gave them to everyone from the postal delivery person to her chemo nurses to their housekeeper. They’re the perfect blend of sweet and spicy and fragrant and somehow evocative of Christmas time to me….although they’re delicious any time of year. Now my better half has made these his specialty, tweaking ingredients here and there and making them his own when we have friends around. The perfect way for a recipe to live on, don’t you think?
6 cups mixed nuts (my preferred blend is pecans, cashews, walnuts, and pistachios)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons soft brown sugar
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 tablespoon salt
½ teaspoon cayenne
Preheat the oven to 160/350 degrees and place all of the nuts on a large baking sheet. Pop them in the hot oven and roast until golden, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile in a large bowl mix together the remaining ingredients until the sugar starts to dissolve. When the nuts are done throw them in the bowl and toss with the mixture, trying to coat every nut. Allow to cool before devouring.
