Candied Walnuts

I'm trying to eat healthier but I have a natural sweet tooth.  One of my favorite salads is spinach, feta cheese, grilled chicken, and candied walnuts.  If you ever buy candied walnuts, they are expensive!  I like them a lot but don't want to shell out the $10 for them.  I decided to make them.  For just about $3, I have 3 cups of candied walnuts!  

Here's the recipe!

CANDIED WALNUTS
Makes: 1 1/2 cups
Prep and Cook Time: 15 minutes 


Candied Walnuts

Hints:
Check around to get the best price on walnuts.  At Wegman's, I could buy walnuts from the trail mix bar for $5.99/lb or I could but them from the nut section for $7.99/lb.

If you want more than 1 1/2 cups, make two or three batches.  The sugar cools very quickly and it will be difficult to separate the walnuts.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of walnuts
1/2 cup of sugar
pinch of salt

Instructions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350°F. Lay walnuts out on a baking sheet (I recommend one with a lip) in a single layer. Bake for 5 minutes. Test for doneness. If not quite toasted enough, toast for 1 or 2 more minutes. Be careful not to burn. Remove from oven and let cool.

2.  Pour sugar into a medium saucepan. Have the cool walnuts nearby, ready to quickly add to the pan at the right time. Cook sugar on medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon as soon as the sugar begins to melt. Keep stirring until all the sugar has melted and the color is amber. As soon as sugar is melted and the color is a medium amber, add the walnuts to the pan, quickly stirring and coating each piece with the sugar mixture.

3.  When the walnuts are coated with the sugar mixture, spread them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Use two forks to separate the walnuts from each other.  Work quickly!  Sprinkle with salt. 

4.  Cool and Enjoy!

Let me know how yours turn out!

My completed lunch!

Spinach, Chicken, Feta, Candied Walnuts,
Raspberry Vinaigrette