Sugared Walnuts

2 cups walnuts 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup water

Mix ingredients in a microwave safe bowl

Microwave for 3 minutes. Stir. Microwave for 3 more minutes. Stir

Microwave for 1 minute at a time until nuts turn golden.

Pour onto a sheet of parchment paper and spread the nuts so they are not in really big clumps.

They will harden as they cool. They will be very hot - be careful not to burn yourself.

After they cool, break them apart.

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Here's a great recipe for Candied Nuts that are almost identical to what vendors sell in NY city. I got it from Top Secret Recipes. It calls for almonds, peanuts, or cashews, but I've used pecans and walnuts also. I like it because it's easy, doesn't use too many ingredients, and doesn't have too many steps. Also, they've not too sweet.

2 Tblsp water 1/4 cup sugar 1 1/4 cups nuts--I've used up to 2 cups

Bring water and sugar to boil in saucepan over medium heat.

Add nuts; stir constantly until water evaporates and sugar hardens on nuts (be careful not to cook too long, or sugar will burn).

Pour out onto plate or bowl to cool.

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Another recipe below, similar to the first one. There are tons of recipes on the internet for sugared nuts. Some use brown sugar. Basically, you can't go wrong ... unless you burn the sugar ... which will not happen if you are watching them and stop cooking them as soon as they turn golden. Stirring helps to avoid hot spots.

The recipe that just puts them in for 8 minutes seems to me like it might depend on the microwave and the bowl. If you got a hot spot, it could burn some of the nuts while the others were not cooking as fast.

2 cups walnut halves 3/4 cup white sugar 1/4 water

Lightly grease a baking sheet.

In a 1 quart glass measure, combine walnut halves, sugar, and water.

Cook in microwave oven on high setting for 8 to 8 1/2 minutes, or until sugar has caramelized. Stir several times during cooking.

Pour out onto prepared baking sheet, and separate into pieces.

Let cool completely and store in an airtight container.