That one where I talk about nuts

Since the whirlwind that is the holiday season has passed, I finally found a moment to get back on here.

For the last couple years, I’ve made a pledge to attempt and simplify Christmas.  The goal’s intention was to alleviate some holiday stress since I tend to overthink and overcomplicate anything that involves a second person let alone all of my family, in-laws, and friends.  The biggest way I do this is by giving everyone the same present.  It might sound like a cop-out (which it totally is) but it saves a ridiculous amount of time, stress, and usually money as well.   It’s normally handmade or mostly handmade and involves an edible treat along with something substantial the person can keep.     

Luckily, everyone I give presents to are in at least their early twenties which seems to be the age where a person doesn’t care as much about getting a bunch of stuff and they mostly want free food from mom and dad along with a clean place to do laundry.  No one cares about the newest fad present (seriously, what the fuck is a zhu zhu pet?  Or is that even still current?  Sometimes I feel so old for only being 26) and Christmas really does turn into that lovely time of year where family and friends gravitate back to home base and simply want to enjoy being around each other.

The present that the husband and I put together this year was a fun one.  One of the takeaway presents we gave was a  bar glass etched with a comic book sound-effect word.  BJ drew up all the words by hand which I then turned into a stencil and etched onto a glass.  We also used a different word on each glass (klik, ding-dong, buuuurrrrrp, BAM!, whoooosh, etc.) so while everyone received the same items the overall gift was also unique and personalized. 

The rest of the presents were of the snack and booze variety.  Each person received a small jar of spicy rosemary mixed nuts and either a 22 ounce beer (brewed in our kitchen), a jar of cranberry-lime infused vodka, a jar of jalapeno-garlic infused vodka, or a jar of Liquid Gold which is another infused vodka that when mixed with sparkling cider becomes a dangerous elixir.  Also, I attempt to forgo wrapping paper because I think it's kind of a waste and I'm cheap.  This year I chose to use a super awesome reusable shopping bag from Envirosax to package everything in.  

Something to drink, a receptacle for said drink, a snack, and probably the greatest reusable shopping bag in existence.

Seriously though, if you use reusable shopping bags, I highly recommend picking up an Envirosax.  As demonstrated in the above picture, they roll up small so it can be tossed in a purse or glove box and when unrolled they hold a TON of stuff.  I love mine and use them all the time. Just get one.  You won't regret it.  Well, you might regret it if you hate awesome stuff but then you're a sad and bitter person who doesn't deserve to own something so cool.  
       
Anyways, in order to keep some of the holiday cheer going, I’m sharing the recipe for the spicy rosemary mixed nuts.  These were the surprise hit of the Christmas grab bag and almost everyone has asked me for the recipe or offered to buy me an endless supply of Costco tubs of mixed nuts so I could keep them stocked for life.  Enjoy!

Prepare for deliciousness

Spicy Rosemary Mixed Nuts

1 lb mixed nuts
1 tbsp melted butter
3 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 -1 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix melted butter, rosemary, sugar, and cayenne pepper together.  Pour this mixture into the nuts and stir to coat.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for around 10 minutes.  Stir halfway through.

I used a salted nut mix but I'm sure unsalted would probably work as well.  You can always toss some kosher salt in with everything.  Enjoy!




Side note: I mentioned that I'm 26 but I'm also apparently a 12 year old boy because I giggled each time I wrote nuts.  Every.  Single.  Time.




Nuts.