Party Mixed Nuts

Again, you can vary this to your taste - more or less pepper, Worcestershire sauce. Also, you can mix up the nut mixture - more almonds, fewer pecans (if you aren't having me over ) or add some pistachios. If you have the spice "sumac" - not the stuff that grows outside your house or along the wayside, but a botanical cousin - you can add a teaspoon of that for a nice tang and pretty color.

Ingredients:
2-4 tbsp. butter
1 c. pecan halves
1 c. whole almonds
1 c. dry-roasted unsalted peanuts
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. sumac - optional

Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 300°. Add butter to a 13- x 9- x 2-inch baking pan; set the pan in the oven to melt the butter. When bubbling, remove the pan from the oven; add pecans, almonds, peanuts, and Worcestershire sauce to the melted butter. Gently stir and shake until well mixed. Bake the nut mixture until it is toasted, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Remove the nuts from the oven and sprinkle the mixture evenly with chili powder, garlic salt, and cayenne pepper. Toss until well mixed. Transfer the warm nuts to a bowl and serve immediately, or let cool and store them at room temperature in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Makes 3 cups of spiced mixed nuts.